A 16 year old Orange Walkeno was killed yesterday evening in his hometown. He was stabbed by a 19 year old – whom he’d had a fight with earlier on. A violent end to what had been a simple misunderstanding between two young men. I went to Orange Walk Town today to find out more.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Did you get to see Daniel before he passed away?
Monica Soto, Mother of Murder Victim
“Just a little glimpse on the bed while they were rushing him to the surgery room. Just a little glimpse and I ran behind them but they didn’t let me see and I understand, I understood afterwards why.”
The murder of sixteen year old Daniel Soto is being described as a senseless killing that has now left a family in mourning and in shock. The teenager was only a block away from home when he was viciously stabbed twice. It happened
just after six on Thursday evening. The blood stains are still visible on Mangal Street and the bench where Daniel Soto sat in the company of friends when one of them attacked him.
The main suspect believed to be a young man in his late teens has not been caught. That is because he remains on the run. But Orange Walk Police tell 7News that they are optimistic that he will be caught because the argument and stabbing were witnessed by many people. So it won’t be long before they have their killer in custody.
Insp. Selvin Tillett, Deputy Commander – Orange Walk Police
“There were plenty people who saw what happened and hopefully with the assistance of the public we can get to the nitty gritty of this situation and we know some people might have witnessed it and don’t want to talk to the police but it could be your brother or your son so if you have information come forth to the police help us with this investigation.”
Monica Soto,
“Yes, yes, if anybody knows what happened of course because if justice has to be done let it be done. I just pray for him, for this guy for God to have mercy on him and I don’t want nothing bad to happen to him.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Even though he killed your son?
Monica Soto,
“Yes. Even though he killed my son because God is a loving God and
he always gives us opportunity that we will turn around and turn our life to him and change. Whatever he did today, I would never want nobody, not even his mom, to go through this pain.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
But he took someone’s life so he should be punished for that.
Monica Soto,
“Yes I think so. We’re in this earth and by law it has to be done. Justice has to be done. He took away my son, he did. He took away his life.”
As Monica Soto looks at pictures of her youngest child she says it will take faith to get her through the tragic loss.
Monica Soto,
“Most of all I want the good Lord to make the justice because he took away one of my precious from my hand; he took something precious from me, something that was so valuable to me. He did. But I don’t want to make justice, I am waiting for him. He is the one who will make justice.”
Justice for a murder that the deputy officer in charge of Orange Walk Police, Inspector Selvin Tillett says was spurred by a misunderstanding and a fight
Insp. Selvin Tillett,
“At this point we have no knowledge as to what the argument was all about. Yes there was an argument prior to this stabbing incident between the deceased and another male person. They had an altercation and the suspect left and came back with a knife and inflicted the wound on the young boy Soto. That is where the investigation leads so far.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
He is on the run right now but do you know if the altercation and the stabbing was witnessed by anyone?
Insp. Selvin Tillett,
“As far as our investigation, yes there were plenty people who saw what happened.”
A number of witnesses who would not wish to appear on camera told 7News that Daniel Soto and one Eric Gonzalez who were friends got involved in what they described as a silly argument. According to the witnesses, Eric Gonzalez who appeared to be drunk at the time threatened to go home to get something. The witnesses say Eric Gonzalez returned shortly and stabbed Daniel Soto with what they say was a butcher knife. Daniel Soto died some two hours later while undergoing treatment at the Northern Regional Hospital.
We caught up with Juan Soto outside of the Belize City morgue. According to the father, the post mortem reveals there was nothing that could have been done to save his son’s life
Juan Soto, Father of Murder Victim
“Because of two stab wounds, one on the leg and one on the upper part of the leg, and the two of them were fatal.”
Insp. Selvin Tillett,
“For this situation to happen, it really hurts us, especially knowing it was a minor, just sixteen years old and apparently the young person that did it has absconded or is hiding from authorities. We are trying to see how we can locate him because we know he is hiding from authorities.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
At this time the police are not naming the main suspect, the young man who killed your son. But the witnesses who saw everything happen told us that the suspect’s name is Eric Gonzalez and that he and Daniel, your son, were friends.
Juan Soto,
“Yes according to information which I got from friends out there, that is exactly what I understand but like I said this happened, whatever the law do, it can’t bring back my son. I will leave everything in the hands of God. I am a Christian too and it is a very sad situation but I can’t do better.”
But while the main suspect remains on the run Orange Police report that they do have what is believed to be the murder weapon in their possession.
Insp. Selvin Tillett,
“At this moment we have what seemed to be the weapon, a knife used, and I think most people do not know who we are looking for anyway but I don’t want to divulge it at this moment.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
That’s good that the police have the weapon they believe was used to inflict the fatal wound. Where was the murder weapon found?
Insp. Selvin Tillett,
“It was hid but someone found it and called us and handed it over to us.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
It still had blood on it?
Insp. Selvin Tillett,
“I sent a policeman to get it. I didn’t see it at first so I don’t want to speculate.”
Monica Soto says she spent most of Thursday in the company of her son but she left home to attend a friend’s funeral service when later that evening she heard about what had happened.
Monica Soto,
“I did not get to speak to him before.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
But in your heart, Daniel knew that you loved him and you loved all the kids.
Monica Soto,
“Yes, I tell them everyday. Almost everyday I tell them I love you because I love you, I discipline you and this is what is going on. Three of them, I have three kids, and three of them know how much I love them. Each day we let them know that we love them so much; each day.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
As parents I guess that’s all we can do, advise them.
Monica Soto,
“Advise them and give them all our love.”
Following a wake at the family’s residence on Saturday sixteen year old Daniel Soto will be laid to rest.
Again if you have any information that can help investigators find their main suspect call Orange Walk Police at 322-2022.
