At the top of the news, we told you about the questionable killing of BDF Private Jessie Escobar. His death has incensed Belizeans in his community and in other parts of the country, but there was an equally outrageous killing in Belmopan. In this instance, the victim, 24-year-old Stanley Dyer, was shot and killed by a gunman who actually barged into his home on Belize Street and gunned him down while he was in his bedroom.
It's a very brazen murder, and today, the head of the National Criminal Investigations Branch gave the press a briefing on it:
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
"On Friday sometime around 7:30pm Police were called to Belize Street in Belmopan as a result of a shooting that was reported to them. When police arrived to the scene, they observed the apparent motionless body of Joshua Dyer, twenty-four years, where his mother reported to police that sometime shortly before 7:30 p.m., she heard a knock on her door and upon her going to the door and opening the door, a clear complexion male person inquired about her son, she then inquired from the person what his name was and used this opportunity to force his way inside the building where he then went directly to the room being occupied by Dyer where he then forced opened the door and fired several shots, fatally injuring Dyer. The person then came out the building and later made good his escape."
Reporter
"Was there anything obscuring this person's face? It seems rather brazen to enter the family's home like that, sir?"
ACP Joseph Myvett
"It was reported to the police that the person was wearing a black hooded jacket at the time he entered the building."
Reporter
"Any information as to what caused this victim to be targeted so deliberately?"
ACP Joseph Myvett
"At this point in time, we do not have any information other than to say we are aware that he had an altercation about a month ago with two persons. Those persons have since been detained pending this investigation. An investigation was done while they were in detention where it was shown that those persons were nowhere near that area at the time of the incident."
We also got a chance to speak off-camera to Dyer's mother, and she told us about the moment she opened the door to speak to the would-be gunman. Here's what she told us:
Voice of: Marcia Hutchinson, Mother of Deceased
"From 6pm or 7pm we would wine down, he would be in his room and I would be in my room, he would be in his own world and I in my own world and someone came and hollered Joshua and so I got up to see who it was. I told Joshua someone was outside calling him and he refused to get up, because he doesn't have friends and he doesn't entertain compony, so it didn't bother him. So I came and ask the person who it was and he said he wasn't going to give me his name and by the time I was about to close the door to no entertain the person no more, because Joshua didn't want to entertain him, so it doesn't make sense I. So he push the door open and stomp down the room door and he did what he had to do."
Reporter
"Ma'am, explain to us does he have any enemies, anybody who he has had any disagreement with who would want to hurt him like this?"
Voice of: Marcia Hutchinson, Mother of Deceased
"No, he doesn't have any enemies. Joshua is a loner by himself. He is in his own world, so there could be no enemy that I would know of that Joshua would have, because he doesn't keep with nobody. He spends 24 hours a day in this house by himself` until I come home. To say he had an enemy, no."
Reporter
"There is also some suggestion that he had some mental struggles as well too, is that correct?"
Voice of: Marcia Hutchinson, Mother of Deceased
"Yes, he had a mental challenge that he was facing for 3 years."
Reporter
"What was his personality like?"
Voice of: Marcia Hutchinson, Mother of Deceased
"Despite that he was still a sweet, humble, respectful - there are times that he would go off, but beside that he was always sweet, humble, listen to worship music - that was his thing, playing basketball, that was his thing - all day he would just watch basketball. He was happy and contented to be who he is, in his own world messing with no one, just living his life."
Reporter
"And someone came and ended it?"
Voice of: Marcia Hutchinson, Mother of Deceased
"Unfortunately, yes. But you know God is not asleep."
Reporter
"How are you coping ma'am, we see you here speaking with us with such strength. We've met other parents, other moms who are in tears, unable to speak at all, how are you able to have this much strength at this time?"
Voice of: Marcia Hutchinson, Mother of Deceased
"The word of God says strength comes from him; strength arise when you wait on the Lord. I keep my strength and faith in God, he is my refuge, he is my strength, he is my peace and my comforter."
