26 year old Richard August was killed last night in Orange Walk. It happened when he was at a relative's house - when a lone gunman stormed into the house and let off with six shots.
August was killed and two male minors, aged 13 and 14 were shot.
Monica Bodden went north to track down the story:..
Monica Bodden Reporting
The shooting took place on the second floor of this two story building - located on Royal Palm Street in Orange walk town.
26 year old Leon August was shot to death - while a thirteen year old boy was shot to the neck and upper left arm and a fourteen year old shot to the right arm.
It happened around 8 o'clock last night in the quiet neighborhood.
Dorla August - Mother
"We heard that there was a shooting going on so we start making phone calls. I call my son and he said 'mommy, they shoot Richard', I didn't say anything I just scream and I call out for my husband and I tell him to come because the shoot Richard. At that time I didn't know that my son is dead. We got in the vehicle and went to the hospital. We went to the hospital expecting him to be alive and so I ask the nurse about my son and she made a gesture like this (she lowered her head). Most naturally you knew what that meant. I came outside and say that my baby is dead. At that moment I didn't know what to say, who to talk to, I got on my computer as I got home and I email all my family that I can remember in the United States telling them that they shoot my baby and he is dead. He was at that place at the wrong time; he went to visit his cousin."
August left home early that evening - he ended up at his cousin's house that only lives about 2 blocks away from him.
He, his cousin, and the two minors where watching television at the time of the incident.
According to police, a lone gunman walked up the stairs, entered the house and fired six shots at them.
Two of those shots caught August in the neck and chest - fatally wounded him.
Dorla August - Mother
"They were about to watch a movie video, I don't know which movie. I don't know because after that they took the body; I didn't know he was dead; they took him to the hospital. When I got to the hospital they told me that he had pass."
Monica Bodden
"He got shot, his injuries were fatal, but there were two others who got shot in the shooting incident. Were they relatives of Leon?"
Dorla August - Mother
"No, I don't really know them. I know they weren't relatives, I don't know the guys."
Monica Bodden
"You had a chance to talk to the police?"
Dorla August - Mother
"Yeah we spoke that night because I stayed there until after the forensics and everything. They didn't have much to say. We know who this guy is and so by now the police supposed to know who this person is and maybe have him detained already or if they don't have him detained; hopefully sooner than later."
Monica Bodden
"Your son was shot where?"
Dorla August - Mother
"In the face. They said a bullet went in the eye and one in the chest area. I don't really know because I didn't see him. I didn't want to see him anyway."
August was the youngest of three children for his parents. Today they both struggle with accepting his lost.
Dorla August - Mother
"Every day my husband and I talk. We put on the TV news and we say 'now whose day is it today to die' and I have never seen my husband cry. I spoke to my daughter this morning from the US and she spoke to her dad and he was crying, he cried and cried. I have never seen my husband cry. He (my husband) was in the bedroom today taking down the clothes that we are supposed to bury him in and when he held the shirt he start crying again. He said 'babe, we look on TV news and say that somebody is going to bury their love one, now it's us,' then he start crying again."
With tears in her eyes, this mother described what she remembers most of her son.
And now that he is gone, all she wants is justice - for his life that was taken short.
Dorla August - Mother
"My baby was a happy guy, playful and like to dance. He was 26 but he was a damn good mechanic. We brag about him so much. One week he came home and he said 'mommy, there is a vehicle that is park for two years in this village and they brought in so many mechanics and nobody start this vehicle', he said 'I just went one day and I start it,' I say good for you. You can open your own mechanic shop. No later than yesterday my daughter call from the US and said that she bought some tools so Richard can open his own mechanic shop, she says that she is about to get him a chain so that he can lift the engine out of a vehicle so he can do his own thing. I said that is good and I told my son that yesterday. He (Richard) said that all he needs is a book to "time" the machine and he is "set" and he is good to go. That was the last I heard from him."
Monica Bodden
"If you could say one thing to the person who did this, what would that be?"
Dorla August - Mother
"Why the hell did you kill me son? He didn't do you anything. So if you wanted somebody then find that person but not my son. You have no right. You guys kill already, so you don't care."
Monica Bodden
"You think you are going to get justice?"
Dorla August - Mother
"I hope with all my heart that yes I get justice. I hope so because my son didn't deserve that."
The gunman escaped on bicycle.
The thirteen year old received injuries to the neck and arm, while the fourteen year old received injuries to the right arm. The 13 year old is in a critical condition.
