They wanted his gun but this morning two men took away something far more valuable from 62-year-old security guard Oliver Blanco. He was gunned down in a shocking mid-morning murder. Keith Swift was on the scene and he has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Emotions were raw this morning on Faber's Road as Oliver Blanco's family arrived on the scene and got a view of this, the security's guard dead body inside this drain. This woman who says Blanco was like a father to her couldn't fight back the tears to talk us. Those emotions that thickened when Blanco's son Kenton arrived. And that grief and anger boiled over when Blanco's wife Eleanor arrived on the scene. For her the sight was simply too much.
Initial reports at the scene are that Oliver Blanco who works as a security
guard was returning to work when two masked men attacked him and took his gun. Blanco worked for anchor security and was posted at the Chamber of Commerce Western Union Office on Regent Street. His boss Danette Burns says he was already at work but he got a call saying that someone was breaking into his Freedom Street home.
Dannette Burns, Manager - Western Union
'He got a call or somebody came by the office and told him that they had just broken into his house and he informed his security company that he would be leaving to go and investigate. He also informed us and he left."
Eleanor Blanco told us off camera that she also got the call about a burglary at her house and she too went home where she met her husband. It was the last time she would see him alive.
Eleanor Blanco,Wife of Deceased
"I just left my husband. I went home because the neighbor called and said it looked like somebody went into the house so when I got there I just saw the light bill paper on the floor. So when he reached I told him that the house was broken into, only the light bill paper was on the floor. So he said okay and we were in there talking and talking. And then from there I told him I was going back to work and I left and I went so when my son came and told me he had bad news for me, I told him to tell me and he said Oliver was dead. I couldn't believe it because he had just left me. But they shot him for the gun he had on him because he was going back to work and it's the gun they shot him for-those damn people are disgusting."
It is believed that Blanco was ambushed by two men who lay-waited him in this area. Neighbors recall hearing at least two shots. The broad daylight murder has left a bitter taste in the mouth of Kenton.
Kenton Blanco, Son of Deceased
"I am hurt right now so I don't have anything to say. I just want to meditate right now. I want to say that whoever did this, I will put the legal and the street way. The street is that once you put to the streets you have seven days of peace and once that seven days is over, then you will know."
A bitter family and grief stricken colleagues. Oliver Blanco has been at Western Union for the past five years. Danette Burns says Oliver was like a dad to all of them. They want to catch his killer and are offering a 5 thousand dollar reward.
Danette Burns,
"Blanco was...he was our best friend. He was very friendly, willing...I don't know, he was a dad to us at Western Union. He really loved it."
Keith Swift,
One of his neighbors told me that same thing. What is it about him?
Danette Burns,
"He is just willing, energetic, he works with us, he plays with us, he eats with us. Western Union, the Chamber, the community of Belize on a whole, I guess are fed up and tired with the crime situation and because of that the Chamber has jumped in and we are offering a $5,000 reward for any information. It has to be information that leads to the arrest and conviction of these people and I think everybody will join us and we are asking the public on a whole to come out, give information. Let's not just leave this crime to go unsolved. The only way we will stop these is if we get involved and the crime stoppers line is available and people will be there willing to get any information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of these perpetrators because again this is another senseless crime, another person dead for absolutely no reason at all."
Frustration which was evident on those who watched as another fallen brother was carted away in the back of a police pickup.
