And back in Belize City, 40-year-old Shawn Palacio was fatally shot last night, around 6:00 as he stood only a stone's throw from his home. But his neighborhood and his family are still reeling since the 40 year old Palacio didn't do much outside of working and spending time with his loved ones. He had lived in the Jane Usher area for decades and those closest to him have no idea who could have wanted him dead. Today Courtney Menzies spoke to them but they had more questions than answers. Here is that story.
Gunshots rang out just after 6 last night and caught 40-year-old Shawn Palacio as he was walking on Mudd Street, killing him on the spot. But those closest to him say they never suspect he would be the target of such a vicious attack.
His close friend and neighbor of 13 years told us that she hung out with Palacio on Sunday, and never thought that would be the last time.
Melissa Martinez, Friend of Deceased
"Halloween we was enjoying ourselves for Halloween, everyone was having a great time Sunday so I was just wasted yesterday from Sunday hangover and in the evening I get up and do my laundry and so then I heard something like a cherry bomb, you know how since Christmas is close people would play with cherry bomb and popshot. I heard a loud noise like a cherry bomb and next thing I heard bawling outside. When I reach outside, it was people, the police, everything done happen. I don't know anything or see anything, I was just in my house minding my business."
"I was shocked, everybody was having a great time Sunday and like how I don't come out of my house I didn't get to see him yesterday because I live in the back. I'm going through a hard time, I'm just trying to keep myself together."
And his three kids and siblings are also devastated over his murder. His sister said she saw him only hours before his death, and that now, all she has are questions.
Hady Garcia, Sister of Deceased
"When I get the sad news, my heart broke because I couldn't believe it because the afternoon he was at my house and we were laughing and talking and not knowing that would be the last time I would see my brother. I still asking myself what could he have done to them, I don't know, I don't know what happened, because he never mentioned to me that he had anything against somebody."
"It's hard, I never believe that a day would come… (crying) I always watch people talk about their loved ones get shot you never know these things will happen so it's really hard to understand."
"It's a really rough time for me and my family we are trying our best to cope with it and it's hard because we're left with more questions than answers, why? What have he done/ we don't know."
And both women said that Palacio was what every brother should be.
Hady Garcia, Sister of Deceased
"Me and my brother we have a good relationship because he come here and we'd laugh and talk, we'd watch movies and we would always joke about the movie we'd watch."
"He's a very nice brother, and a very kind brother, and a brother that's willing to help. Once he have it and you ask he will give you and that's what most of his friends back there say."
Melissa Martinez, Friend of Deceased
"He was a nice person, anyone ask him for anything they get it. He's a nice rasta man that I even ask him, why you don't go be a minister because whatever somebody need something you always have it to give them. They could need pipe, they could need cement, they cold need steel, they could need board, they could need whatever he is right there for them. Money? Whenever someone was broke and they needed money he would lend you without pressuring you about when he'll get back his money."
"He's like a brother to me because my mom got 7 of us, 5 girls 2 boys, and none of my brothers were there for me like Shawn would be for me."
And his sister by blood had some words for his killer.
Melissa Martinez, Friend of Deceased
"The thing I need to tell those boys, we have to stop killing each other, why are we hurting each other? We need to stop, time is too short, we are just hurting each other."
Palacio's children are 19, 18, and 8.
