He was a former cyclist and celebrated Chef but 34-year-old Reuben Cano was gunned down over the weekend. It happened on Saturday night at around 11:00.P.M. on Pitter Street when Reuben was standing in front of a home where he'd been a frequent guest, but that's when his life was callously cut short.
Cherisse Halsall has that story.
This is the house on Pitter street where Reuben Cano made his last stand, only he couldn't have known that when he stopped by the yard to have a few beers in honor of a friend's birthday.
And it wasn't long after Reuben and his girlfriend had entered this house that someone he knew called for them from outside. Insisting that they come and say hi.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"A person came to call him out and he came out and minutes later shots were heard and he was found in the drain. So, we are still trying to find that person who had called him out."
And in another few moments, the friendly atmosphere was shattered, by terror, when two gunmen came at them from the direction of the burial ground. Reuben pushed his girlfriend into the yard and out of the line of fire. Out of the corner of her eye, she could just glimpse him struggling with his assailants, and by the time she looked back, he was face down in this drain.
His assailants ran off firing off shots as they went so as not to be followed. By then Cano's friend, the one who called him out of the house, was nowhere to be seen.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Mr. Cano is not affiliated with no gang and so we are still trying to ascertain a motive."
Reporter:
"So there's a name for a suspect?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Yes we have a name of a suspect, yes."
But police investigations have brought little solace to the family of a man who by all accounts was a great friend, chef, and cyclist who no one could have believed would meet such a terrible end.
Among those still in shock is Reuben's friend Byron Pope, a man who was cycling family.
Voice of: Byron Pope, Friend
"The friendship he and I have mein it's like we're brothers by blood. Reuben we call him the Russian. Reuben the Russian Cano, he help me alot in cycling in terms of he was one of my number one. Nobody did what he did for me in cycling and I had a lot of success in cycling in Belize and he was all part of those victories."
"I don't know what really transpired mein because I don't know Reuben as a violent person, ignorant person. All I know Reuben is a person who like to have everyone laugh, because he likes to run some jokes. That's all I know about Reuben. So, its kind of puzzling what happened to him and in that manner."
And we heard warm words too from another friend, this one a colleague in the culinary industry.
Ainsley Castro, Friend
"Two things that man loved were cooking and cycling and family. He has nice followers due to his cycling. When it comes to that race he took it serious. He work hard and drink a lot of vitamins, herbs - he was one of them I would never forget with orange juice and egg yolk and I tried that and its nourishing and healthy and also he has a lot of secret sauce that he took with him. He had talent. He went in Benny's competition and came in first and he won some second prizes also. He went in Taste of Belize also. He loved what he do and we work side by side very well. The last time I saw him was on the 19th day. He left a jacket for me, because it cant fit him."
A stray souvenir of a man gone far too soon and for no good reason.
Cherisse Halsall:
"And if it is true that he was killed simply because he was wearing red in a blue neighborhood. How would that make you feel then?"
Byron Pope, Friend
"I really feel bad, because we got to put those stuff behind us, because color can't feed us and from ever since I know Reuben he loves red. That was his favorite color from high school days. But never a day he is not a gang banger, he is a person who is loved by many, we in the cycling community will miss him bad, because even though he was not riding presently, he still has his bike and thing, but he comes around the sport. Just Friday we had a good conversation, he met in the insurance place and him and I had a good conversation and the man tell me before he left make sure I do good for new year, because I want to try make a comeback. When I woke up Sunday morning and see the missed calls and texts, I just break down. I went to a race on Sunday and I still can't believe this happened to him. This is a real shock to me. Reuben don't trouble no one."
Cherisse Halsall:
"What they're saying on the street is that Reuben was killed because he was wearing red in a Blue zone."
Ainsley Castro, Friend
"That's what I got to hear too, but everybody knows Reuben too. Reuben is not into that. As you watch he is not that type of person, cool guy. You can't mistake him as no gang member or anything. Its just rough. Sometime I like to wear my red hat too, but its not something like I am a gang banger, its just to match my clothes. so that is really unfair. I hope they get justice mein. I hope the family gets justice cause it didn't need to have gone down like that."
Cano's family was too distraught to speak today but via telephone they told us that Reuben was an extremely hard worker and a dedicated family man. Someone who, quote, "turned anything he touched to gold, a man who will be dearly missed." End quote.
He leaves behind two sons ages 10 and 2.
