And while that city murder is disturbing - a killing in Teakettle was just wild. The deceased, 24 year old Shane Simplis was shot, and chopped right down the center of his head.
His friend, 17 year old Elton Vasquez was chopped all over his body. As Monica Bodden found out in that western village, it was a wild and lawless attack that seemed to have come from out of nowhere:
Adalia Simplis-Mother
"If I see that person standing in front of me I think I would strangle him with my bear hands. Right about now I don't want to see them even in pictures."
Monica Bodden Reporting
Those were the words coming from this angry mother's mouth as she grieves the loss of her youngest child - who was murdered.
The incident happened around 8:50 last night in this yard in teakettle Village.
23 year old BDF soldier Shane Simplis was shot and chopped to death while 17 year old Elton Vasquez barely escaped death with a chop wound to his back.
What exactly causes the violent encounter is still uncertain, but we know that 2 young men - also from the village - are said to be responsible.
17 year old Vasquez - who is hospitalized told us what happened off camera.
Elton Vasquez, chopping victim
"Last night when I came from work my brother call and told me that somebody came to see me right, So I jump on my bike and rode home to see what they want. When I reach there we were talking and laughing and then I told them that I was going home so I ride off to home, my uncle was there so we start talking, like 5 minutes after the guys came to my yard and they walk straight in and I thought that they wanted to talk, but then one of the man whap me with a gun butt. I got a little dizzy and when I look I see the other guy pull out a machete to chop me in my head, but I move a little, I got chop in my back. I just walk away."
Vasquez said he walked behind his house - where his brother came to his aid.
He had been chopped to the back. At that time 23 year old Shane Simplis - came over to ask what was going on.
Elton Vasquez, chopping victim
"My friend Simplis came to ask me what was going on. I told him that the man chop me for nothing. When I told him that he ran around the house and the guys saw him while he was going around the house and they went after him and shot him in his head. The guy that shoot him ran and then the next guy chop him two times in his head then they ran down the road."
Simplis was shot at point black range to his chest and was also chopped twice to the center of his head and his right arm. He died on the spot.
One of the two men accused of the murder of 23 year old Shane Simplis - was handed over to Belmopan police early this morning by his father. We understand police were still looking for the other suspect.
Matthew Patnett, Chairman of Teakettle
"It was actually this morning I was passing and he stop me and ask me if I could assist me in bringing in his son, so I said well that is the best thing to do. So I just assist him and take him in along with the area rep. Mr. Ramon Witz. He mention to me that he heard his son name calling, so that was the best thing to do anyway."
Monica Bodden
"He decided to take him in to the police."
Reporter
"How was him son demeanor today when they were bringing him in?"
Matthew Patnett, Chairman of Teakettle
"Well, he was quite. They took him in by not force at all."
Monica Bodden
"Did he mention anything to you guys while going down?"
Matthew Patnett, Chairman of Teakettle
"No, he didn't mention anything. He said that he will talk to the police."
Simplis's mother told us she was in church when she received the news that her son was shot. She said by the time she arrived at the hospital he was already dead.
Adalia Simplis-Mother
"The story that I got is that they went after the other person who is still hospitalize. They knock him with the gun and they chop him and my son went to help the young man. He saw them with the gun so he ran and they chase him around the house three times before they shoot him. they tag team him because one went from the one side and the other went from the next. It is people that he knew, so he felt like he could have talk to them and have them leave the little boy alone. Like I said the young man "Calil" comes to my house, he eats out of my son's plate and it is he that chop him."
Monica Bodden
"You don't know or what reason? What the argument was all about with the 17 year old."
Adalia Simplis-Mother
"I don't know. As the mother you will be the last to know."
And according to Elton Vasquez, he is still in shock after yesterday's incident.
The young man says they had no beef with the two individuals and was talking to them shortly before it happened.
So he's still uncertain about what caused yesterday's incident is still to him.
Elton Vasquez, chopping victim
"I didn't do those guys anything and we didn't have any kind of beef. i don't know what went on because we never had any hard talks or nothing."
Monica Bodden
"You guys use to hang out?"
Elton Vasquez, chopping victim
"Not really hang out but we always use to talk. All of us use to work together."
Monica Bodden
"So they were familiar with both you and Shane."
Elton Vasquez, chopping victim
"All of us are cousins."
Monica Bodden
"So you are still trying to figure out what really happen?"
Elton Vasquez, chopping victim
"Yes, because I don't know what really went on. we know that we didn't do them anything and we just came from there talking good to them. After that they came and chop me and thing."
Adalia Simplis-Mother
"The bible says 'be not deceive, God is not mock, whatever a man sows, he shall also reap'. They took my son life. Let us see what will happen to his one."
Monica Bodden
"Do you want justice?"
Adalia Simplis-Mother
"God will give me justice. I don't depend on man to give me any. But God will."
Simplis was the father of one child. Police have a 22 year old detained, but he has not been charged…
