A well liked Chinese grocer at a popular store in Orange Walk was cruelly murdered on Friday night. The father of three was taking care of business in Tony's Store when a shotgun toting gunman strode in and killed him. Monica Bodden has the story:…
Monica Bodden Reporting
Tony's Store -located on Palmar Road in Orange walk Town - became the scene of a bloody murder on Friday night - when a Chinese businessman was gunned down behind the counter of his store..
It happened around 9:00 - when two armed gunmen entered the store and without asking any questions- shot the owner- 41 year old Zhou Ang Tan in his chest - in front of a customer. Tan fell to the ground and died almost instantly.
Fearing for her life, the customer that was inside the store, asked her to appear off camera as she recalled the horrific details.
Customer that was inside the store
"I was passing by and I went inside the store and I decide to buy some "pepitos" and i was with the Chinese shop keeper for a while and I gave him a fifty dollar note and I heard a noise by the front door and I saw a man coming with a gun. I think it was a rifle because it was long and he shot the Chinese shop keeper. I move to the back of the store and I stayed there for a while. The gunman didn't say anything, he just shoot at the shop keeper."
Monica Bodden
"They shot him in his chest?"
Customer that was inside the store
"Yes, in the middle. I saw blood, so I think it was in his chest."
We were told that the two men hid their identity by tying rags over their mouths.
Monica Bodden
"Were these men wearing any masks, any covering?"
Customer that was inside the store
"Yea, a rag and one had on a cap. I was looking at the one who shoot the Chinese shop keeper. I didn't see the other one."
Monica Bodden
"His face was covered?"
Customer that was inside the store
"His face was covered."
The customer told us that she stood by the counter as the heinous act transpired. All she could have done was pray for her own life as she watched her neighborhood Chinese grocer bleeding on the floor behind his counter. Both men then went behind the counter and began searching for money- that was when she decided to run out the store to a nearby house.
Customer that was inside the store
"After they shot him, the only thing I did was I move not far from the counter. I didn't speak anything. There was the other guy beside me. I ask God what I should do. If I should ran more into the store or outside the store. Afterwards I didn't see if the other guy jump over the counter or if he went outside. I don't remember. When I saw he was searching was the time I decided to ran out. I ran to the neighbor but her door was lock because she heard the gunshots."
Monica Bodden
"So you ran inside the house?"
Customer that was inside the store
"And I hide under a table."
Monica Bodden "So his family was at home at the time of the shooting? He was in the store and they were at the back of the store?"
Customer that was inside the store
"Yes they were at the back."
Monica Bodden
"But no one came out?"
Customer that was inside the store
"No. No one came out. A little guy that was there - he is the one that ran inside and I think that he is the one that told his wife not to come out."
Today she is left shaken by the incident and says it is one that will continue to play on her mind for a long time.
Customer that was inside the store
"I think I am afraid. This morning I went out and I walk out in the town and I feel something inside of me. I am scared of that because I am the type of person that don't see any kind of movies, especially the movies that are of killing and I experience it."
Monica Bodden
"You actually went to the store that night to purchase?"
Customer that was inside the store
"pepitos" and I didn't get the "pepitos"
Tony's Store has been the neighborhood's grocery shop and socializing spot for over 3 years. It is said that the store has been robbed twice before but no gun was used in the previous incidents. This quiet neighborhood in Palmar is today left in shock and all agree that they have lost a good neighbor.
Customer that was inside the store
"He is a very nice person, everybody that shop there - he would give a joke. I think that he will be miss by the neighbors."
According to Orange Walk police, when they arrived they saw a man exiting the store with a sawed-off shotgun in his hands and fired a shot at the Police vehicle. Police returned fire at the individual and said that the man dropped his weapon and ran off making good his escape. Investigators retrieved a 16-gauge shotgun from the scene. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen.
Accounts from those at the scene say that the shootout with police did not happen in front of the store and no 16 gauge was recovered in that area. We tried to speak with Orange Walk police to clear up the discrepancy but despite numerous attempts no one at that formation was available.
