It's been almost two weeks since coastal pirates attacked Christian "Gigi" Gusenbauer at his "Private Heaven" resort in the Lark Caye Range.
And tonight the German ex-pat has only begun to heal from the physical as well as mental scars he incurred when he was shot to the buttocks while barricaded inside his bedroom.
Gusenbauer newly released from Belize Health Care partners, made his way back to Placencia this week where he was reunited with his very best friend. We have that moment in Charisse Halsall's story:
This was the moment that Christian Gigi Guesenbauer reuniting with his beloved dog Mali.
It's a moment that he was actively dreaming of when he spoke to me from his hospital bed.
Christian Gusenbauer - Shooting Victim
"I can't wait to see my dog again, you know, we tried yesterday with video chat and she heard my voice but I know that she doesn't realize because I tried that with my kids and she was more confused than really knowing he's on the phone. But I got the impression that she thought hey he, somehow he's still alive because of course, she knew that this was the maximum of brutality with uh, she is so frightened of firecrackers and now imagine hearing these gunshots for an hour or half an hour or forty-five minutes. So, to see my dog again, one year on the island together, and since three years together."
He recently returned to Placencia after being treated for his gunshot wounds,
It was an almost certain death from which GIGI rescued himself, reaching out to friends in Placencia, who that night braved rough seas to become heroes.
And while the Coast Guard was a few steps behind that night they've been on the case ever since, and this morning were able to announce that they've caught the key suspect in GiGi's attack.
Gregory Soberanis - Acting Commandant
"We have been getting numerous leads, not only the Coast guard but our partners as well have been getting leads as it relates to that particular crime, I know that working with Ms. Ramclam in Placencia, the police were able to apprehend one of the Key suspects in that particular crime and through information received as well we were able to one locate. One of their assets and the engine that goes along with that asset, we currently have it here secured at the Coast guard headquarters and we're working very closely with the police and that is an ongoing case, an ongoing investigation at this time."
It's an arrest that may offer some relief to Gusenbauer who shortly after the incident told me that his attackers had been out for blood.
And while Gusenbauer will remember the callous attack on Private Heaven as the worst moment of his life, an emerging silver lining is the maritime security that will now be afforded to the Placencia Village.
Cherisse Halsall
"Sir when we did that story in Placencia, residents made us very aware that law enforcement in Placencia as you rightly noted doesn't have access to a boat, does that change now is the coast guard going to be stationed there, do police get a boat, how is that going to be sorted?"
Gregory Soberanis
"I can tell you that the Coast Guard's presence will now be in Placencia. We are going to put a team in Placencia and we are going to be putting teams in strategic places along or in our coastal communities that are being affected and being terrorized by these criminal elements. So, to answer your question yes there will be Coast Guard presence in the Placencia area and that will come online very shortly."
