And after that bit of good news following a particularly violent weekend, there may have been the hope of a respite. But it wasn't to be, because by 8:30, there was a shooting that led to yet another murder in Belize City - the fourth in 72 hours. Cherisse Halsall reports.
It happened on Whistling Duck Lane off Faber's Road Ext. at 8:30 last night: the sudden and brutal murder of Ricky Miguel. Fatal gunshots that had been preceded by some street corner socialising, followed by a dispute, and then, suddenly, as many as 7 gunshots into a parked car.
Miguel lay dead while his girlfriend Thalia Westby was injured.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The shots made their target on a female who was shot in the leg and a male person who was shot multiple times to the body. The male person, both were rushed to the hospital where the male person succumbed while undergoing treatment. The female at this time is in a stable condition at the hospital."
This evening we spoke via phone to his sister in Dangriga and she told us that the revelation of her brother's death has been both unceremonious and especially tough for the family.
Voice of: Nadia Garcia, Sister of the deceased
"Two individuals actually came here two strangers actually came to our house calling by our gate and just giving us a number saying that oh my brother got shot last night, we're supposed to call this number and we just called the number and as I said before we haven't gotten any official statement from the police department Belize City nor Dangriga, we heard about everything on social media, that was the way we got to learn about his death."
And while the family await a police notification the commissioner told the press that Miguel was killed in a quote "Man issue"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"From what we have gathered this incident may have to do with some man, it's a man issue and the suspect in question is in police custody, he's a relative of one of the victims who was shot so he has been caught by the police during an operation this morning and I believe that the police should be able to gather sufficient evidence to lay charges against him for murder and attempted murder."
Daniel Ortiz:
"Sir would you share any additional details as to what caused the dispute between the persons?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I said over a man I don't know if the man is you but over a man."
And whatever the nature of that altercation, Miguel's sister remembered him this evening not as a troublemaker but as a jovial man who loved to Dance.
Nadia Garcia, Sister of the deceased
"My brother, I could speak about him here in Dangriga he's originally from Dangriga here, he was a very jovial loving person to his family, his neighbors, he was very friendly we have never heard of him having an altercation here in Dangriga with anybody, his way of enjoying himself is going on stage dancing and so on."
"I cannot speak about his life in Belize City, I know nothing about his life in Belize City, I don't even know where he resides in Belize City."
Police have a known suspect for this crime.
Thalia Westby remains in a stable condition at the K.H.M.H and is expected to be released tomorrow.
