Christmas, it should be the most trouble free day of the year, but mix party-people gone wild with deadly firepower and you’ve got a combo that can create chaos – even on the sacred day. So while most Belizeans were celebrating the birth of Christ, the small village of Bullet Tree in the Cayo District was still reeling from the killing of a young man who had lived in the village his whole life, and one who was regarded as respectable and hard working. But something went terribly wrong with 22 year old Luis Alberto Martinez around two on Christmas morning. The San Ignacio Police Station received a 911 call saying he was menacing one bar owner with a loaded shotgun. 7NEWS went to Bullet Tree to find out more.
Jacqueline GodwinReporting,
The report said that this man, twenty two year old Luis Martinez was menacing the village with a shotgun, after he fired it at the door of the First Stop Tavern. When police arrived, they saw several bullet holes and pellet impressions in the bar’s front door. By this time Martinez had left the area and gone to his home just 100 feet away and it was here at the Martinez’s residence that the police encountered the gunman.
Cpl. Mateo Carillo, Wounded Police Officer
“On arrival I saw a person run through the back door with a shotgun in his hand. Myself and the other officers pursued him and at the same time informing him that we were police officers and I had a big spotlight in my hands
along with my police issued firearm.”
Martinez had managed to run about half a mile away from his residence when police say he took aim at them
Cpl. Mateo Carillo,
“When I managed to get a good look at the person who was loading the firearm and after he load the firearm he just turned around and opened fire that is when he shot at me and somehow I managed to put my hands on my chest but he remained there standing and before he got another chance to reload again I opened fire at him and I saw him drop. Then once I saw him drop, I just release the firearm and made my way to the police vehicle and they took me to the San Ignacio Hospital.”
While CPL Carrillo was rushed to the medical facility the Martinez’s family says their son was left to die here at this blood stained area that marks the spot where he fell. Teresa Lopez claims that her son was still alive when he hit the ground.
Teresa Lopez, Mother of Deceased
“And they think that it won’t hurt my feelings. But my son is not an animal. They left his body right here and nobody helped him up. It’s like they enjoyed it like how he died like a dog. They cannot do that to my little boy.”
Cpl. Carillo who has been with the police force for 8 years was shot in the chest and suffered other body injuries was later transferred to Belize City and remains hospitalized at Universal Health Services. Although Carillo remains optimistic about his prognosis it is not sure yet if he will ever regain full use of both his hands. He also sustained damages to his lung and diaphragm.
Cpl. Mateo Carillo,
“So far I am doing good. I went through surgery already. I have both my hands severely damaged, punctured lungs, I have a tube that is taking the excess blood from inside but I am doing good so far. “
Gerald Westby, Commissioner of Police
“I am very optimistic and upbeat that he will return. Knowing this
young man, it runs in the family. His brother is a policeman and he is very strong and I am certain God will help him to come around and recover fully and certainly we will take him back into the job, irrespective of what his health is. I am certain that he will recover fully and I am very optimistic.”
It will take several months for him to begin to heal but Carillo and the department maintain that he did the right thing, that he fired his weapon to save the lives of his colleagues and himself:
Jacqueline Godwin,
It’s pretty remarkable that you were able to respond considering the injuries that you had received. Do you think at that point you were only operating on adrenaline or what?
Cpl Mateo Carillo,
“I would believe so, I would believe so because he fired a single shot which broke both my hands and caught my chest as well. I just managed to open fire in self defense, defend myself and other officers out there.”
However Armando Martinez believes that CPL Carrillo did not have to kill his son.
Armando Martinez, Father of the Deceased
“They shot him like an animal. That’s very hard for me.”
Gerald Westby,
“The police had to act in self defence he fired although he was wounded he was still able to save and fired and return shot and save his colleagues. Yes, I understand the family concern but he must also understand the police side equally.”
Cpl. Porfirio Carrillo, Brother of wounded police officer
“The dedication and his training at the department has allowed him to be here with us today. If it was not for the training and dedication it might have gone differently.”
But recent attacks against police have caused them to increase security when they respond to any emergency call. According to the officer in charge of National Crimes Investigation Branch Senior Superintendent James Magdaleno it is the second time in just one year that police personnel has been shot in that western municipality.
Sr. Supt. James Magdaleno, O.C NCIB
“We take precaution even when we advance to a scene you know we have other officers covering the area where we will go, we separate when we get there, we have the aid of flashlight when we go into these areas especially in the night. So those are some of the things that we have put in place. We had to respond to the report, its our job you know. When we get to these scenes it is then we find out exactly what is taking place, we do not know what people have at times but it is our job to respond the best we can and with what we have.”
Gerald Westby,
“Well Jackie we need to continue to increase our numbers, we have another intake, and continue to train our police officers because as you’ve seen, this incident only brings home the point that we need to continue to train our police, we need additional police, and we continue to get additional and we continue to equip our Police Department.”
Details as to what transpired before Cpl. Carillo was shot remains sketchy. The police say based on information they received Martinez was acting disorderly inside the First Stop Tavern. He was probably asked to leave and that is why he returned an opened fire on the establishment. But Martinez’s family, friends and other villagers say he was never in the bar that night; he was at home when he received a visit from a friend to come to his rescue after he had gotten into an altercation with another patron at the bar and that‘s why he went to the bar. There is no explanation however as to why Martinez had to fire his weapon.
The Martinez family however says their son was a construction worker who was an employee of Maya Rio Construction in Placencia and that he was only home for the Christmas Holiday and was scheduled to return to his job on January seventh.
Teresa Lopez, Mother of Deceased
“Yes, he was a very hard worker and he always gave me his money when he was working. He was not those kinds of boys who are on the streets fighting. He does not fool around with anybody. He does not get involved.”
Armando Martinez,
“He was a cool guy, a cool guy, he was never, I cannot say anything about him because like how I feel right now, I cannot explain, it is very hard for me.”
It has also been a difficult time for the Carrillo family. Today the family and the police high command made visit to UHS.
Cpl. Porfirio Carrillo,
“He is a very dedicated person, very responsible and I know this is what he does. All my family, he has the support of my entire family.”
Gerald Westby,
“It is not an easy thing Jackie as the Commissioner when you get these calls early in the morning and the first priority for me was to ensure that he get the best medical attention and that’s what we did, to ensure that he was transferred from Belmopan as quickly as possible, not because we do not have confidence in the hospital but we thought that it would be best for us to make sure that we do all because these young men and women are out there putting their lives on the line.”
Cpl. Carillo is receiving a five day treatment and is expected to be released from UHS this weekend. He will then spend the next six months recovering at home and receiving therapy. As for Martinez, his family hopes to bury him tomorrow.
