Easter may be an essentially religious observance - but, this year, it seems many Belizeans attacked the first post-COVID easter in two years with a vengeance - and it led to a loss of 7 lives: 3 by murder, 2 by drowning, and two to fatal accidents. It's a series of unfortunate events if we ever saw it and we'll bring you each of those stories but we start with the Belize City murder that came just as the weekend ended.
It happened at about 7:15 on Monday evening, that's when 25-year-old Shaquille Patnett was killed in cold-blood while riding around his block.
It's a killing that that has left the young man's family in a state of profound shock - they say he was a homebody who had his dreams in music largely kept to himself. Cherisse Halsall has the story of the tragic murder of one of the Patnett family's youngest sons.
The Easter Holiday was all but over at 7:15 on Monday evening. And after a day at home in the company of his family Shaquille Patnette decided to take a ride to the corner store, little could he know tht a gunman lay in wait to end his life.
His family is devastated, but also terrified, they spoke to us wanting to honor his memory but fearing for their own safety did so off camera.
Voice of Victim's brother
"So I gave the man a ride but the man, but he told me to take a little spin, but I think it was the shop he was going to but when he left I went to my mom's house and when I went to my mom's house I took off my shirt right and as I was going to sit down here I heard bang bang bang bang bang."
Another brother was the first of Patnnett's family on the scene and ended up holding his little brother in his arms as he took his lasts breath.
Voice of Victim's Brother
"I was the only one who was strong out of the crowd so I was the one who took him to the hospital. When I came on the scence the young man, the little neighbors had him held in thier hands but the man got shot so I don't understand why they had the man held so long. The moment he got shot they should have tried to rush him to the hospital. Going on the way now, to the roundabout to Matron Roberts, it was right there around the curb that the man passed away in my arms."
"So the driver who took me and thing I didn't want to tell him that he passed away but we got to the hospital and I put him on the bed and from I put him on the bed I already knew that he's gone so the doctor told me to wait and see if he passed away. I wait for the message and when I got that I was not happy, I was really crying you know because I'm the oldest brother and I take care of all of them."
As for the Pattnete patriarch, he's still coming to grips with the reality that one of his beloved son's is gone.
Voice of: Wilford Pattnett, Victim's father
"We went to buy some drinks and we drink up and I say I think it's time for me to go home. I went home and by the time I hauled off my clothes and relaxed they ran and came: "Dad, dad, dad, dad." they shot up schocking Shaquille, I said no man this must be a dream. I walk, I walk, not even I run come and a crowd was here and they said yes it ain't a dream and that was the last of it. I still feel like it's a dream."
Sadly it's far from a dream, it is instead a stark reality, one that the cops who keep a constant presence on that street put down to constant rivalries in the area.
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer
"That area where they have an ongoing how to say problem with othr members of, with members of other neighboring gangs. So, we wouldn't want to speculate as to why he was targeted but we are investigating all angles. When a murder happens in a zone like this."
Wilford Pattnett, Victim's father
"I have a son-in-law who just got shot down the first of New Year's right down the street. The holiday done yesterday or almost last night to done the holiday you know and he get it."
And a the Pattnett's mourn yet another of their members they have to find the strength to remember the good things even as they mourn the brother, son, and uncle, forever lost to them.
Voice of Victim's brother
"My brother was a cool person too my brother used to like his music and when he would play football with us he would be spinning on the ball and talking about he's Cristiano he talked about bwoy I dah Cristiano and listen to me just yesterday we were chilling and everything and laughing up with my brother and this that that that the man said he wanted to see my son. My son came today and as my son went in the room he didn't even see his uncle."
"If I knew this would have to happen best thing I mih stay home."
Another man Raheem Willams was shot in the foot in the same incident.
Shaquille Patnette didn't have any children.
