The only good news tonight is that investigators have made a remarkably swift arrest. By 4:00 o' clock, 6 hours after the killing, police had charged 26 year old Edward Arthurs with murder. A second man, whom police say was wearing the mask, is also detained. Commander of the Criminal Investigations Branch, ASP Chester Williams told us that Oliver Blanco was lured to his death by the accused and the suspect who were desperate for his 9-millimeter firearm.
ASP Chester Williams, C.I.B. Commander
"The police conducted an investigation into the matter and so far have detained two suspects, one Edward Arthurs, who was placed on an identification parade and has been positively identified as one of the suspects in connection with the murder of Mr. Blanco. He has since been arrested and charged for the crime of murder and will be taken to court tomorrow. The other suspect who was wearing the mask at the time, we have in custody. I will not say his name at this time because we have other things that we need to do before he could be charged jointly with Edwards Arthur in connection with the murder of Mr. Blanco. I must commend my officers who came out and worked diligently on this investigation along with the community who also gave us the information we needed to have been bring this case to a quick solve."
Keith Swift,
What was the motive for the murder?
ASP Chester Williams,
"The motive for the murder from our invetigation was robbery. Mr. Blanco was carrying a 9 millimeter pistol which was the property of the security company he works with, which is Anchor Security Company, and apparently he was at his workplace on Regent Street when he was visited and informed that his home was being burglarized. He asked his bosses for time off to go and make checks at the residence and when he got there the call was bogus. So obviously it seems like he was lured to the area in order to rob him of the firearm. I believe they know him quite well because he resides in the area and they are from that area. So I am certain they have been watching him over a period of time."
Keith Swift,
Two suspects detained and one has been charged. Where is the gun?
ASP Chester Williams,
"We are still trying to recover the firearm. Obviously they will not admit or will not tell us where the firearm is because it will be additional evidence against them and it is an investigation process and we will try our best to try and recover the firearm but at this point in time we have not recovered the firearm."
Keith Swift,
What type of gun was he shot with?
ASP Chester Williams,
"With a 9 millimeter pistol."
Keith Swift,
How desperate are the streets for guns? You are saying this man was lured away from his job and he was murdered for a gun.
ASP Chester Williams,
"Well I would believe because of the fact that the police have been trying very hard to remove as much as possible firearms off the streets, the criminal elements on the streets, I believe, do not have the firepower they think they need in order to execute any move so they are trying to get it by whatever means they can and I believe that Mr. Blanco was just an unfortunate victim to them."
Arthurs will be arraigned in court tomorrow. Police say five shots were fired and Blanco was hit in his head, his neck, and his right arm.
For the last day or two residents in the Faber's Road area told us that they have been complaining about gunshots in the area. They say the reports have fallen on deaf ears since police have refused to respond. ASP Williams told us the only report of gunshots they received was this morning prior to the Blanco murder. He noted though that the two shootings were not related.
