When we left you on Friday, it was with the news that three people had been shot at the corner of Vernon and Hibiscus streets and at least one of them was dead.
Turns out that two died from a wild spray of gunshots. The targets were 17 year old twins Daniel and Darnell Puerto who were standing up in front of their home along with 34 year old Ian Martinez.
Martinez and Daniel Puerto died shortly after being shot while Darnell Puerto is in a serious but stable condition.
Monica Bodden responded to the scene shortly after the fatal shots were fired and she picks up the story from there:
Monica Bodden, Reporting
This is where the shooting happened at the corner of Hibiscus Lane and Tibruce Street at 6:05 on Friday evening.
Armed soldiers stood guard - while bystanders and area residents looked on in stunned disbelief as the scenes of crime team searched for expended shells.
According to neighbors, as many as 20 shots were let go in a hail of gunfire.
According to many witnesses who recounted the details of the shooting - 17 year old Daniel Puerto and his twin brother Darnel were standing in front of their house talking to a friend - 34 year old Ian Martinez - when a brown car pulled up - two gunmen jumped out -and opened fire.
Daniel Puerto was shot to the neck, left leg, right side of the back and left hand - his brother Darnel was shot to both his legs and hands - while Ian Martinez was shot to his neck, right lower ribcage and left shoulders.
The 3 men were rushed to the KHMH in this white car - belonging to Martinez.
Inside the car at the time of the shooting was his 2 year old daughter who witnessed her father being gunned down - from the front seat of the car.
She held on tight in shock - while we waited at the hospital for her family members to arrive.
There at the hospital friends and family of Daniel and Darnel was looking for hope. But it was too late.
Daniel Puerto and Ian Martinez were both pronounced dead on arrival.
Today we met up with the family of Ian Martinez at the morgue. His father told us he received the news just minutes before 7 o'clock on Friday evening.
Ernest Martinez - father
"My son is a mechanic and he was fixing a vehicle for somebody, he had already fixed it so he went to drop off the vehicle. The areas where the incident happen was where the person lives around that same area. When he went to drop off the vehicle the person wasn't ready at the same time because the person was supposed to take him home in the vehicle. It just happened that he came out and spoke to somebody and that is where the shooting happened."
The family strongly believes that Martinez was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time when the shooting occurred.
Ernest Martinez - father
"My son is a hard working person. He was working at JMA Motors, that's where he work as a mechanic but then he works at his house doing the same thing so he is not a person who goes out and do something that is not right, he is always working. I think what happen is that he was at the wrong place the time when the incident happen, that's all I can say about it."
For his older brother who resides in the US - he is shattered and devastated by the news.
Alden Martinez - Brother
"This is one of the calls you never ever want. I was at home and I got a call - my sister calls me crying, it's something you never want and something you think you will never get. I never expected it. You see it all the time on the news, even though where I am, I am always looking back home to see what's going on and I see it a lot time and I am always thinking 'I hope it's not me and it happens.'"
Ernest Martinez - father
"Everybody really feels it because we didn't expect like he would have gone so early and in such a manner."
Alden Martinez - Brother
"My brother was a happy go lucky person, my brother was enjoying life, he always tells me that you only have one life to live so just live it and don't worry about anything else. Enjoy life; enjoy your kids, hanging out with his friends doing fun stuff. My brother didn't give trouble, he just loved life and was trying to live it the best he could."
Seeing his younger brother in a morgue this morning - was unbearable.
Alden Martinez - Brother
"You can't explain it. I just saw my brother, its something that you will never be the same. That picture will always be in my head that I see my brother in a morgue. That's my younger brother."
Monica Bodden
"You want justice?"
Ernest Martinez - father
"Well not really, I think everything will take its course. I don't have that in my mind."
Alden Martinez - Brother
"I want to see something gets done. I've been watching news back from home. You always see people that get killed and you never hear anybody getting prosecuted for it so I just want legal justice. I want the law to do what they are supposed to do and arrest people for the crimes that they commit. Innocent are getting killed, why? Something has to be done. They have to do something."
There is speculation going around that the intended targets were 17 year old twin brothers Daniel and Darnel Puerto.
The Puerto family declined comment and said they had no picture of the deceased Daniel Puerto.
The Belize Police Department is appealing to the General Public to come forward with any information that can assist in solving this crime, by calling 0-800-922TIPS.
