And Monday night's first murder targeted a teenager and his family is left asking why. 19-year-old Micah Baltazar was targeted by a gunman around 7:30 last night on Neal's Penn Road. He was ambushed by an invitation to talk to a young woman. Courtney Menzies has more:
19-year-old Micah Baltazar was reportedly lured to his death last night.
He was likely being closely watched because the gunman approached him at a home he frequently visited on Rivero Street Extension - the home of his cousin - who was more like an uncle to him.
According to this cousin, Baltazar was about to leave when the man said a girl was looking for him on Neal's Penn Road.
But it was apparently a trap, and as Baltazar walked on the street, a gunman approached him and opened fire.
His aunt told us off camera that while she knows her nephew wasn't a saint, they could never expect that he would be killed so callously.
Voice of: Vivian Cumiss, Aunt of Deceased
"To be honest, I won't say Micah is an innocent and that he's a perfect person because to be honest, nobody's perfect. Micah has his ways but at home and what I personally know about Micah, he is a very humble person, a sweet soul, Micah always has us laughing and he's a joyful person."
"We were very much devastated about the situation but being believers in Christ we are leaving the situation to the Lord."
Reporter
"I know you said his mother suffers from seizures, how has this news been on her?"
Voice of: Vivian Cumiss, Aunt of Deceased
"Very much difficult and we are trying to hold it together for her being that she is a very sickly person."
So far, the police's investigation has led them to believe that motive was gang-related, and that Baltazar was killed simply because of the area that he hung out.
Supt. Alejandro Cowo, Head CIB Belize City
"What we understand is that Mr Baltazar had just exited his uncle's residence which is somewhere on the Kraal Road area and was walking on Neal's Penn Road when he was approached by someone who fired several shots at him causing his death."
Reporter:
"Any idea why he was killed sir?"
Supt. Alejandro Cowo, Head CIB Belize City
"We have been gathering some information and so far we know that he is not from that area and because he hang out at another location and we believe that is the motive why he was shot."
The police are now looking for one suspect.
Baltazar was known to police.
