Police have 11 men detained in San Ignacio tonight after a wild and violent Saturday evening in Santa Elena. 7NEWS went west to find out what happened.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
It’s here on Perez Street in Santa Elena Town that all hell broke loose on Saturday evening – and in the end one teenager would be dead from a gunshot, another critical with stab wounds, and a police scenes of crime technician in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his chest. Police say that it started at about 6:30, a swarm of men - eyewitnesses say as many as 20 - stormed into this yard, looking for the Galindo brothers, David and George. Police say the men leading the pack were three Echevveria brothers: 29-year-old Myro, Ruben and 17-year-old Marvin.
Sr. Supt. James Magdaleno, Head - NCIB
“And they went through the gate, forcefully went through the gate, and chased he Galindo brothers. According to the investigation so far, a firearm was brandished to the back of the yard and there was a struggle to the back of the yard with the Galindo brothers and the Echevveria brothers. During that process a firearm went off. According to one of the witnesses, they said that they saw the firearm in one of the Echevveria brothers. So it was only the three brothers including the one that died and David Galindo, they were the only people to the back of the house.”
Elvis Canales lives in the Galindo’s yard. He was standing outside when he saw a mob descend on the yard
Elvis Canales, Area Resident
“They just rushed in.”
Jules Vasquez,
How many?
Elvis Canales,
“Well I would say about 25 of them.”
Angel Novelo, Reporter Newspaper
“Where were you at this time?”
Elvis Canales,
“I was right outside.”
Angel Novelo,
“So they didn’t come at you?”
Elvis Canales,
“They knew I was their cousin but then I held a stick so if that if they came to me, I could defend myself.”
Jules Vasquez,
So they ran into the yard?
Elvis Canales,
“Yes rush into the yard.”
Jules Vasquez,
And what did they do?
Elvis Canales,
“Started to stone the upstairs, break up the window, stone up all over the place with stick, and ran to the back and broke up everything.”
Jules Vasquez,
Why?
Elvis Canales,
“Well I don’t what was the problem with them.”
Jules Vasquez,
Who were they looking for?
Elvis Canales,
“For David and George Galindo.”
Jules Vasquez,
Who were in this house.
Elvis Canales,
“Yes they were alone.”
But Yolanda Echevvaria differs – she was parked at the corner of Perez Street in this Geo Metro when she says, it was her brothers who came come under attack.
Yolanda Echevvaria, Sister of Accused
“I just went and saw that they started shooting after my brother and my brother was going to talk to them and when they saw him go into the yard, my rest of brothers went to see but they were just shooting and shooting.”
Jules Vasquez,
So you were in one of the vehicles?
Yolanda Echevvaria,
“I was in my car but the guys didn’t have any weapons. No I couldn’t stop it because if I had went in, they would have shot me too because they were shooting and shooting. I couldn’t do anything. They wanted to kill three of them.”
And while this grieving sister says her brothers are the weapon-less victims and police say differently, there’s no question that the next victim was 18-year-old Justin Gordon. He was on Perez Street when he was attacked and stabbed.
Sr. Supt. James Magdaleno,
“This guy Justin Gordon was approaching the house of the Galindos when the crowd outside said he was one of them and they stabbed Justin Gordon outside on the street.”
Elvis Canales,
“He is a friend.”
Jules Vasquez,
He just happened to be on the street.
Elvis Canales,
“He just happened to be on the street.”
Jules Vasquez,
So he was stabbed for no reason other than…
Elvis Canales,
“See one of them, kill ih [expletive]. Most of them were under alcohol, most of them, because the guy grabbed the man and all in the crowd said to kill ih [expletive] because they already had one boy who dropped down so they grabbed him and started to stab him in the back.”
Now Justin Gordon is in the Belmopan Hospital in a critical condition recovering multiple stab wounds. But those injuries wouldn’t be the last. Three hours later at 9:30, a police crime scene was scouring the scene for clues, when they too came under fire. These bullet holes at the back of the yard show where the gunshots came in. Police believe that it may have been a case of mistaken identity – as the police were in civilian clothing and the shooters may have thought they were part of the Galindo crew.
Filiberto Pott was the scenes of crime technician. We spoke to him from his hospital bed where he is recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Filiberto Pott, Scenes of Crime Technician
“Myself along with Sgt. Aldana were trying to find any expended shells, any kind of evidence from the scene and then like it was a dark area and suddenly appeared and fired shots and I felt a burning sensation and fell to the ground. I think that the murder had just happened and I think that person was looking for revenge.”
Elvis Canales,
“My little baby was right there and it is right there all of this gunshot happened. I just if they had killed my baby I wouldn’t have mind going with all of them and just start shoot up. I wouldn’t mind giving up my life after that because my baby was there and I had him in my hand when I heard the shots being fired. They were coming in to kill. They didn’t come in to look for anyone, they came in to kill anyone and at the same time the police came and that is when they fired shots at the police.”
Jules Vasquez,
But why?
Elvis Canales,
“Because they came to look for the Galindos.”
Jules Vasquez,
But what is the beef?
Elvis Canales,
“Oh the Galindo beef, they had a beef like about three months ago and they have court and case for that and that is why I think they wanted revenge.”
So the scene that had already witnessed one murder, one serious stabbing, and two other gunshot injuries – was left virtually unguarded by police.
Filiberto Pott,
“I ask for more persons to be at the scene, more armed personnel.”
Jules Vasquez,
You think there should have been armed officers securing the area while you all were doing your work?
Filiberto Pott,
“Yes.”
Gerald Westby, Commissioner of Police
“Certainly we need to look at the security at these scenes more and elimination and other aspects of when these people go and visit these scenes. We certainly will be looking at that following this incident.”
But more than just their performance at the scene of a crime, police need to figure out what’s happening with what appears to be open inter-gang warfare in Santa Elena.
Jules Vasquez,
What would you say is causing all this gunplay, violence, and lawlessness amongst young men in Santa Elena and San Ignacio.
Sr. Supt. James Magdaleno,
“Jules these young they are idle, they are not working, they hang out. I frequent San Ignacio a lot and they have nothing to do. They hang out, they do drugs, hard drugs, drink, and they just go around riding around the place and create mischief, get into problems.”
Jules Vasquez,
And you all can’t stop this?
Sr. Supt. James Magdaleno,
“The police are there, we have patrols in the area.”
Gerald Westby,
“Over the years there has been a problem with gangs but when Mr. Henderson took over he was able to arrest both by enforcement and by addressing the root cause, the social aspect, so the thing can cool off but it will appear that these persons are friends from the same neighborhood but they’ve been having ongoing rift or dispute or arguments or different incidents and it seems that this Saturday evening probably with drinking and the past, the thing got out of control again.”
Jules Vasquez,
But what is alarming is the access to firepower and the willingness to use it.
Gerald Westby,
“Right because these young people they have different respect for authority than gone by and then they have access to firearms.”
And now that access to firearms and readiness to use it wantonly has left this 17-year-old dead. It would have been his birthday today, but instead of a party, this tent is for a wake – and even for this family at the center of the investigation – there is uncertainty underscored by grief.
Jules Vasquez,
Ma'am who killed the little girl?
Yolanda Echevvaria,
“I don’t want to say.” [Sobbing]
News this evening is that 25-year-old Ruben Echevarria known as Bengue-T
has been charged with attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm – all for stabbing 18 year old Justin Gordon. Though police objected, he received bail of $6,000 today. Echevarria is the driver for attorney Dr. Elson Kaseke and Kaseke appeared for him in court today.
The question police now face is who will be charged for the murder of 17-year-old Marvin Echevarria. As Chief Investigator Sr. Supt. Magdaleno said, an eyewitneses reported that Ruben Echevarria had the only gun at the scene so, as we understand it, he is being investigated in the death of his own brother. Police have also said that they believe it is posible that Echavarria shot himself in the toe when he was carting his brother's body from the scene. Both claims are disputed by the Echevarria family; they claim both Marvin and Ruben were shot by the Galindo crew. At any rate, more charges are expected to follow later this week.
