And from the senseless targetting of a teenager - to a senior citizen.
Last week, the nation was shocked by the murder of 69-year-old Geoffrey Crawford, the Belizean retiree who lived in the Crooked Tree Area.
And, now, another senior citizen has been killed. He's 69-year-old Leo Skeen, a taxi driver from Ladyville.
Our news team was in Ladyville today to find out why this law-abiding citizen, who should be enjoying his golden years, was killed in an execution-style attack usually reserved for the criminal underworld. Daniel Ortiz reports:
69-year-old Leo Skeen was killed inside his yard on Myrtle Wade Crescent.
Residents tell us that he spent the majority of the day doing repair works on his taxi car, and his wife's vehicle.
Reports are that an armed man approached the family's fence and fired multiple gunshots at the Elderly taximan, who was focused on his task.
Skeen was fatally injured; there are suggestions that his home surveillance system may have caught the shooting on tape. A first-responder told us that she rushed over to come to the aid of his distressed wife, who saw him collapsed after being shot.
Voice of: Neighbor - First-Responder
"I heard the sound of gunshots and I ran to the front. I thought it was just maybe someone was just passing through and just throwing shots, but when I heard his wife scream and say they shot Leo, I ran other there and she ask me to get a towel in the house and I ran to get the towel, I couldn't believe what I saw. I feel so sad of what's going on in our country. It came too close to home for me, it's so sad. Poor little old man and I didn't realize I screamed, I said why would you guys want to kill a little old man?"
Skeen was a well-liked member of the Ladyville community, and especially among the residents of the "Japan" Area. His neighbors now join his family in grieving sudden loss. Those who know him are still in disbelief that he was a victim of gun violence.
Voice of: Neighbor - First-Responder
"I know Mr. Leo about approximately I would say 35 years. Mr. Leo was a quiet, humble, hardworking husband and family. He is an amazing human being. He is church going, his wife and I could always see him going to church, go early in the morning, I think they go open the church or clean the church. Before all this pandemic every Sunday you could see them going to church. He didn't deserve to die like that."
Bernardo Bennett - Chairman, Ladyville Village Council
"Basically, I probably would share the same sentiment like everybody else; disbelief, shocked, wanting to know what could have happened, who would cowardly and senselessly want to take the life of Mr. Leo Skeen who in the community is a good standing citizen here in Ladyville, never you hear Mr. Leo Skeen in trouble or anything like that, so Mr. Leo was seen every Saturday with his entire family cleaning and chopping out the Lady of the Way RC church. That was his responsibility and he took up that selflessly without any financial contribution he and his family, so he is a great loss to our community and of course to the church of the Lady of Way. Mr. Leo Skeen resides in the village about 50 plus years. I have known him from child growing up in the community. He also served as chairman. we use to always have discussion about how he does operate the village council and how he does get things done without help from government and I use to enjoy those conversations, because those conversation use to give me ideas how about carrying my responsibility since I am the present serving chairman of the community."
And apart from being a former Village chairman, Leo Skeen was one of the founding members of the Ladyville Airport Taxi Union. His peers tell us that he worked with the union for 45 years, and they remember him as Union Member #22.
Norval Flowers - Secretary, Ladyville Airport Taxi Union
"Mr. Skeen was a very down to earth man. He is always jovial among us. He is the treasurer of the union and we are so saddened for what happened."
This afternoon, the National Council on Ageing and the Ministry of Human Development sent out a joint press to condemn the violent killing of these 2 elderly Belizeans.
Their statement says, quote, "In less than two weeks, active older men have been murdered in or near their homes. These cold-hearted crimes cannot be left to fade quietly into the noise of everyday news. These perpetrators must be caught and brought to justice. Older people are the backbone of this country. They have worked and continue to work to provide for themselves, their families, and the development of the country. Any Belizean having worked and built a life for him/herself has the right to enjoy the fruits of their labor without fear or threat. Having older people being targeted because of their vulnerability is unacceptable." End quote.
