A 25-year-old man was killed on his first day at his new job in a new district yesterday evening. Guinea Grass resident Lisandro Martinez wanted to be able to provide for his family so he came to the Belize District to take up a logging job, since it's work that he knew to do well.
But while riding pillion on the Maskall Road, a gunman in a vehicle ended his life. His co-worker tried to save him, but Martinez was dead before he could make it to the hospital.
But who would want to kill a man who'd just moved from Orange Walk? Courtney Menzies visited the scene of the crime today to get some answers. Here's her story.
25-year-old Lisandro Martinez had just moved from his home in Guinea Grass to Boston Village to earn a living for his family when he was gunned down on his first day of work.
Martinez and his co-worker had gone to the grocery store around 6:30 yesterday but it was when they were heading back home, down the Maskall Road that a gunman in a vehicle opened fire, hitting him in the side.
According to the acquaintance, who preferred to go only by his first name, Jose, they tried to get him to the hospital, but couldn't make it in time.
Voice of: Jose, Eyewitness
"Yesterday about around 6:30 we were heading towards the shop at the junction, it was a normal evening for us and we didn't expect anything to happen like this. On the way there we were talking about his life and stuff like that and then we entered the shop and bought what we had to by in like two minutes and then we headed back home and then I saw a black in color car following us but I didn't think this was going to happen because cars had already passed us so I figured normal overtaking is going to happen. But then all of a sudden the car came closer and closer and then after that I looked at the car a third time and then I started to hear the shots being fired."
Courtney Menzies:
"And what did you think in that moment?"
Voice of: Jose, Eyewitness
"I thought it was like a pellet gun because they sound like firearms, but then I just remembered, it's a gun! And then I just bowed my head and started to speed off to try and avoid them and try to save the guy's life because he was already shot and then when he was shot, he just yelled out in pain, "Bwai!" I just tried to flee from the scene."
"The first thing I said is that we have to take him back to the hospital because he is injured, I knew he was shot because I saw blood on my shirt so I brought him here, trying to get some help, and we just put him in the pan of the pickup and took him to the hospital, emergency."
Courtney Menzies:
"But he passed away before getting there?"
Voice of: Jose, Eyewitness
"Yeah, entering Ladyville, he lost contact with us."
But since Martinez is originally from Orange Walk, and had just moved to the Belize District, Jose has no idea why he was targeted, especially since he says Martinez just wanted to work.
Voice of: Jose, Eyewitness
"He didn't say anything about that, I asked him if he had any problems with anybody here in Sandhill he said, no, he denied it three times, and I believe him, because he's not from here, that's why I believe him. Then while on the road, he didn't speak to us at all, just his last words that he can't make it anymore, that he can't see."
"It's kinda sad because you know he was really happy when he ate his last meal, he was really happy, telling jokes and stuff like that, I didn't think anything like this would happen to him. He was a hard worker, he used to love to work, he was happy that he came back to work."
"He even told me about his wife and how he told her that he loved her before coming here. So I think he knew or his soul felt that it was going to end here."
And while Jose is saddened at the death of his acquaintance, who he's known for about five years, he's relieved that his own life was spared.
Voice of: Jose, Eyewitness
"I'm glad and I think God because I know that's not a coincidence that I'm alive, maybe a bullet could just catch me on my shoulder or my head."
Jose also said that Martinez had a wife and one toddler-aged son that he knew about.
