The next story contains graphic violence so we advise viewer discretion.
Earlier in the news, we told you that the BDF soldier accused of beating a man to death has been arrested and charged for his murder. 38-year-old Estevan Baeza was getting some food on Friday night when Private Raheem Williams reportedly asked him to borrow a lighter. The allegation is that their interactions escalated until Williams attacked Baeza. An eyewitness captured the vicious beat down on camera and the stunned passersby who tried to help afterwards. Courtney Menzies has a play-by-play of what happened. Here is that story.
This was the outrageous scene near the Central Park in Orange Walk Town on Friday night when BDF soldier, Private Raheem Williams, pommeled and repeatedly stomped 38-year-old Estevan Baeza.
The shocking violence on the median of a busy street is made more alarming by the casual air of everyone slowly walking past. And following that fit of rage, the soldier just saunters off, having inflicted what would prove to be life ending injuries.
Passersby, perhaps in disbelief or concern for their own safety, slowly approach the unconscious Baeza as he lies in a state near death, his battered body straddling the median.
It was a nightmare made reality for an aging mother, who said that she had been waiting for her son to come home.
Vicenta Baeza, Mother of Deceased
"[Spanish…] He asked me for some coffee and told me he was going to buy tacos or a fry chicken and I was waiting for my baby and he didn't reach. Some MIT officer came to give me the news that my son is at the hospital."
"He lent the BDF the lighter and [the BDF] gave two other person the lighter and that's when my son said give me the lighter and it's right then they started to fight and like how the soldier is bigger and more fit and my son was small, the BDF should have backed off."
About 30 seconds after the beating, the passersby stop a police truck and the men carry Baeza into the back of the pickup. One officer appears to be unhurried as he climbs into the back of the truck, before it takes off towards the hospital.
Baeza would then be transferred to the KHMH with life threatening injuries to his head, face, and throat. He held on for two nights, finally succumbing early Monday morning.
Private Raheem was detained shortly after. But now, the Baeza family is still left to deal with the immeasurable grief of losing their loved one in such a brutal fashion. And since he was his mother's sole provider, she's now wondering if the army will take his place.
Vicenta Baeza, Mother of Deceased
"He's the only one who used to give me a little money every week. He used to help me because I'm old already. He's the only one who used to give me money to help myself. I would like to ask the BDF to give me the weekly money my son used to give me to help myself."
Williams is currently detained and tomorrow, the BDF will be having a press conference to discuss the action of this off duty soldier.
