A Family in the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan is without a father tonight after a shocking Friday afternoon murder that took place in front of their home and place of business.
As we learned today, 53 year old shopkeeper Abel Bardalez bravely fought off a robber - but it may have been that same bravery that got him killed. Here's how it happened.
There's a black bow on Belen Street's neighborhood store this morning, It's a tribute and a remembrance for shopkeeper Abel Bardalez who on Friday lost his life in a struggle with an armed robber. And this morning his son Hershel called his efforts valiant ones.
Hershel Bardalez, Son of the deceased
"We're all sad, we're all upset, we never expected my dad to go like that, he went down like a warrior like He always was because my dad was never, you know he fought for everything he had and he went down a warrior like he always was."
This morning the cops told us that Bardalez had already been shot when he ran after his assailant.
ACP Joseph Myvette
"What the police learned so far is that Bardalez was inside his shop when he was visited by two delivery men from a de3livery company who were delivering juice. Upon them entering the shop a dark complexion male armed with a shotgun entered and demanded money of those persons and in the process a struggle ensued between the assailant and Bardalez where a shot was discharged, hitting Bardalez. The assailant then left the area running and was followed by Bardalez when in the process he turned and fired upon Bardalez a second time causing the fatal injury."
The family doesn't believe that their shop would have been specifically targeted, they say that the robber must have been trailing the delivery guys.
Hershel Bardalez, Son of the deceased
"Nobody has ever tried to rob us before because you know, my dad is known as a, everybody respected my dad and a lot of people saw my dad as a father figure so nobody tried to do the man anything because he helped a lot of people and a lot of people respect him."
But the gunman didn't - and the cops say that Bardalez's actions - while brave - were ill-advised
ACP Joseph Myvette
"Well it is advisable that if you are not in possession of a weapon to defend yourself that the most convenient thing, I would say is to allow the, if there's no way that you can defend yourself, out of that allow that person and then you call the police."
"Means that if a robber is pointing a gun at you and you are not in a position to defend yourself because you do not have a gun then you must allow that process in order not to be harmed."
But what if you're worried about more than just your own safety?
Hershel Bardalez, Son of the deceased
"A lot of people comment and they say of you should fight for the shop and this and that but they don't know the reason why. My dad worked hard to get what he wanted and on top of that my sister was in there you know, and I know he fought to defend my sister because he knew for a fact that if that guy came in there he could have hurt my sister. He went fighting for my sister, as well as the two guys from BIG-H you know he went down a hero in my book."
As for the robber, he got away with an undisclosed sum and to date has yet to be caught but his actions have forever changed the destiny of this family.
Hershel Bardalez, Son of the deceased
"All I could do is try to follow my father's footsteps you know but I can't be the man my dad was but I can try you know I can try fulfill his wishes."
As you heard, Bardalez's assailant remains on the run.
