The last time we heard of hold ups in the Cayo District was in mid-2006 when a number of resorts and tourists travelling to various sites were robbed by a group of armed bandits. Well tonight law enforcement in the west is now faced with an even more bloody and disturbing crime. This time the victims are not tourists or visitors to that district but a pair of residents of calla creek village.
This morning, the gunshot riddled bodies of a farmer and his son were found inside the family’s pickup truck on the Calla Creek Road about one mile away from Bullet Tree Village. What happened is frightening and is likely the product of cross-border bandits preying on unsuspecting motorists driving through that area.
Information is that around six this morning forty one year old Angel Xis was along with his two children, eighteen year old Tulio Xis and twelve year old William Arnold Xis. The father and sons were travelling to San Ignacio when they were ambushed by five masked men armed with two shotguns and a rifle. From all indications there was no attempt at robbery and the gunmen let loose with a hail of gunfire, police later retrieved nine M-16 shells and four 20 gauge cartridges.
Angel and Marco Tulio were in the cab of the pickup truck could not escape the barrage of gunfire. The younger son who was sitting in the truck bed was only injured with a cut wound to his left hand. His brother angel was shot to his upper left arm, center of his back, upper back, left foot and left knee. There was also a large cut wound to his left arm. Marco Tulio was shot to the right side of his lower back and to the back of his head. Both died immediately. Marco Tulio was reportedly found with $200 in his pocket.
Police would not say if they believed the bandits are from across the border but during their investigations they got a report of another armed assault that had occurred earlier also on the Calla Creek Road. David Shish a sixty five year old farmer also from Calla Creek Village told police that he and his son Amilcar Shish were travelling on the road when they encountered three armed masked men.
As David and Amilcar drove by the men who were standing on the road side, opened fire. Three of the shots struck the father as he sat in the passenger seat. David was hit on the right eyebrow, right side of his head and to the left side of the neck. Amilcar then sped off and rushed his dad to the San Ignacio Hospital. Both men survived.
An intensive investigation has been launched by San Ignacio Police and as a result three persons have been detained. It is not known if any of the men being questioned were directly involved.
