Nine – that’s how many times Corporal Gavin Sanchez was shot by a fellow officer in San Pedro on Thursday morning and the combined entry and exit wound totalled 16. Even more revealing is that at least two of those shots were in the head and at least one was in the back. It is a shocking revelation because the officer who shot and killed Corporal Sanchez, Sergeant Paulino Reyes, says he shot Sanchez in self defense after he was attacked with a metal pipe. But the result of today’s post mortem makes it seem like an execution. Today’s post mortem took more than 2 hours and after it was done we spoke to the Police Pathologist Dr. Mario Estradabran, and got the reaction from Sanchez’s wife.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Mario Estradabran says Corporal Gavin Sanchez died from the gunshots to his head.
Dr. Mario Estradabran, Police Pathologist
“The diagnosis is trauma shock due to severe head injuries due to multiple gunshot wounds.”
Keith Swift,
“Multiple gunshot wounds, do we know how many?”
Dr. Mario Estradabran,
“He has 9 entries and 7 exits,
that’s a total of 16 holes.”
Keith Swift,
“16 holes, do we know from what directions those shots were from, was it front or back?”
Dr. Mario Estradabran,
“We are analyzing still findings. That answer, I will have to give you later.”
Keith Swift,
“You mentioned injuries to the head, how many times was he shot in the head?”
Dr. Mario Estradabran,
“More than one time.”
Keith Swift,
“In your professional opinion, does this look to you like a justified shooting? What do so many gunshots tell you?”
Dr. Mario Estradabran,
“We still investigating. Maybe the police will give you a better answer.”
But Sanchez’s wife isn’t waiting for an explanation from police. She says the multiple gunshot wounds prove her husband was murdered.
Taralee Sanchez, Wife of Cpl. Gavin Sanchez
“This is definitely murder. This is murder definitely, no if but or
maybe. Nine times, that is shoot to kill because then according what I understand is that when they shot him in the foot, Sanchez asked him why you shot me and then he shot him again after that and if he had he and two BDF soldiers along with him, why shot in Sanchez foot and they could have restrained him. So if Jeffries wants to say that is justifiable, I don’t think that is justifiable.”
Keith Swift,
“You heard the story on the news last night from police which is that he came at Reyes with a metal pipe and that is why Reyes shot him. Do you believe that is what happened?”
Taralee Sanchez,
“Nope, maybe he did hit him with the pipe because they said Reyes head was bust but then I mean if Andre had a pipe and Reyes had a gun with two BDF officers, why shot Sanchez for only a pipe. If he only shot him one time, he had on a bullet proof vest, if you even shoot him in his vest, why did he have to get shot in his head? He got shot 9 times, even in his back. How did he get shot in his back?”
And now all this grieving widow wants is justice.
Taralee Sanchez,
“I just want justice for my husband because he worked hard, almost 10 years for this force and for him to go down like that, I don’t think so.”
Keith Swift,
“Do you have faith that the police can conduct this investigation fairly?”
Taralee Sanchez,
“With the right officers behind this investigation, it will – with the right officers.”
At the end of this afternoon’s post mortem, both Eastern Division Boss David Henderson and his Deputy, Senior Superintendent Russell Blackett showed up at the KHMH morgue. Taralee Sanchez says she feels insulted by the Police Department because it wasn’t until this morning – more than 24 hours after her husband’s death – that police contacted her and formally informed her that her husband had been killed. A funeral has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday in Belize City.
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