Russian roulette– it’s that potentially lethal game of chance where participants load some or one chamber of a revolver, spin the cylinder, pull the trigger and take a chance with their lives. It is the most deadly kind of gamble – and police say that on Friday night, TJ Middleton lost his life doing it. But did he? His family isn’t sure and as I found out today, their questions are compelling.
Sgt. Lawrence Humes, O.C Ladyville Police
“From the information that we have gathered from witnesses in the area, we are looking at the case as a suicide, possible murder.”
Janice Middleton, Mother of Deceased
“Come on, I just don’t want my son’s life to go again like another unsolved mystery. This is too much which is happening. My son is just 20 years old. These young men were his friends, at least they say they were his friends. I believe my son got lured back there. My son got lured back there and I don’t care what anyone wants to say, my son never shot himself.”
This blood stain marks the spot where 20 year old TJ Middleton died after being shot to the right side of his temple. The question now being asked is who pulled the trigger?
Sgt. Lawrence Humes,
“There is nothing otherwise to say that it was a murder. There is no evidence, there is no ‘I see’ witness that saw to say different, to say that it was a murder.”
In fact Sergeant Lawrence Humes, the Officer in Charge of Ladyville Police Station says while they have nothing to indicate that TJ Middleton was killed they are still investigating to determine if indeed it was a homicide. The information is that sometime between eleven thirty and twelve on Friday night TJ Middleton was along with eight other young men under this wooden house on Aracari Avenue when Middleton pulled out a chrome thirty eight revolver and suggested they play a game of russian roulette. Middleton then placed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
Roger and Janice Middleton admit that they were not present when it happened but they are convinced that their son was murdered. Why? Well according to the parents, TJ owed money and earlier that day someone had threatened his life.
Roger Middleton, Father of Deceased
“My son got threatened the same day, the same day my son got threatened and the same person came and said he would kill my son that night. And the same night he said it, it happened.”
Janice and Roger say that they didn’t find out that TJ had a gun until after the shooting. But they say it’s a weapon he used to protect his life, not to end it.
Janice Middleton,
“Apparently you had three young men, three young men that knew about this gun. I don’t know where they got the gun from but they buried this gun and my son, being that his life was being threatened, he was with them when they buried the gun and he went and dug up the gun to protect himself. Now I don’t know because you hear a lot of conflicting stories. I don’t know if it is the gun the young men wanted back from him and I guess I will never know that. But one thing I am certain, my son didn’t kill himself.”
Roger Middleton,
“But they came for the gun instead of the money. They didn’t want money again, they wanted the gun which TJ had and I believe they scuffled for the gun and that is how the trigger went off. They didn’t mean to kill him either but it happened, right.”
The parents say they are also disturbed by the fact that if it happened the way TJ’s friends claim it did, why didn’t any of them remain with their son and why was the gun removed from the scene and later handed over to the police?
Roger Middleton,
“It is a murder, it is not suicide. If it is suicide, why would you tamper with the evidence that belongs to the police.”
Janice Middleton,
“My understanding is that the young man picked up the gun. If you know you didn’t shoot somebody, why would you touch that.”
Sgt. Lawrence Humes,
“From the investigation that has been conducted so far, one of the guys that was on the scene when the incident occurred from the statement that we have gotten, he was saying that he had left the scene out of fright and when the police got there one of the other colleagues that was at the scene at the moment spoke to the guy that left with the weapon. However he returned to the scene and handed in the weapon to the police officer.”
Janice Middleton,
“Even if they didn’t find any evidence, this is a weekend. The young men came out, they let go all of them on Saturday. They let go all of them on Saturday. They just interrogated them and let them go. This is a murder thing. My son didn’t shoot himself. My son didn’t shoot himself. All the young men were at the bottom of the house.”
Other conflicting reports are the number of shots heard that night. The Middleton’s live only a short distance away from where their son died. According to the mother she heard more than one gunshot.
Janice Middleton,
“More than one, I heard three or four. Some people said they heard five. People right from around here. I asked the police man this morning if he investigated or questioned anyone who lived in the area. I don’t what’s going on. I don’t know what’s going on. I know that the policemen are trying to do their jobs but when it comes to things like this, families need more information because Miss when you have a child lost, dead, you need closure.”
Sgt. Lawrence Humes,
“We had 8 persons that were detained at the time when the incident occurred. They are witnesses in the case and we have recorded statements from a few of the guys that were in the nears vicinity of the person and it would want to seem that it was a suicide based on the information and the statements that we have gotten so far. However we still haven’t ruled out the possibility of a murder.”
Janice and Roger say like any other family their son did give problems at home but that he has a clean police record. And as to the residence where he was killed, the Middleton’s say he and his friends would often gather there to repair bicycles. And indeed, TJ’s bike was found near his body. He had just finished repairing it for his mother to use.
Janice Middleton,
“I don’t care what nobody wants to say, my son didn’t shop himself. I have to live with this like many mothers in Belize here. All you are left with of your children are just memories. Look how many young people are being shot out there and nothing is happening.”
A post mortem was conducted this afternoon, and pathologist Dr. Mario Estradabran says it reveals that TJ Middleton was shot from very close range – established by gunpowder burns near the entry wound. But even with that, Dr. Estradabran was unable to confirm if he was murdered or if he killed himself. Swabs were taken from Middleton’s hand to test for gun powder residue and that should determine if he pulled the trigger. It is not clear when those results will be ready.
In the meantime Ladyville police say the case remains open. According to the authorities they didn’t hear that the victim was threatened until this morning. According to the police all the statements they have received so far from the eight persons and other witnesses who were present indicate that TJ Middleton fired the fatal shot. Those persons claim that Middleton took out the bullets to play roulette, and that every time he pulled the trigger and it clicked, they warned him to stop.
