On Saturday morning, San Pedro saw its first murder in over a year, a businessman killed in cold blood in a robbery staged by his security guards - who also happen to have a history as lawmen.
Tonight police have one cop who had been on interdiction, and another ex cop detained as the main suspects.
Cherisse Halsall has the story from San Pedro.
These are some of the last images that Elvis Polanco's family will have of him. The last memories of a loving father and husband, the way he was before tragedy struck.
But these images are now shattered by grief after the proprietor of Jade Bar was gunned down and killed while on his way home from an honest night's work. His sons were too grief-stricken to speak this morning. But his brother Fernando lamented his loss and tried to describe just how hard it's hit this family.
Fernando Polanco, Brother of the deceased
"We are suffering a lot about what happened to my brother and all we want is for our family is justice, for the family to please have the police do something about this because this is really affecting us a lot especially all the friends and family, for example, he has a small daughter just 5 years old crying all around and looking for her father around 1:00 A.M. last night all the, we got together here and that was really hard. They just don't take it into consideration that this really affects and we are asking the people to protect each other for example if they see something we just say what is going on and report it so that we can protect each other here in San Pedro."
Her father and mother, Thomasa Velasco Garcia were heading home at around 5:00 on Saturday morning, with $12,000 dollars cash from their businesses in her purse when a gunman with a red shirt over his head ambushed them - killing Polanco, injuring Garcia and snatching the purse:
Fernando Polanco, Brother of the deceased
"He was with his wife and she tried to get help around but nobody helps her to help my brother when he was still alive and that is something that I want to say because it's something sad here in Belize that somebody is asking for help and she said that a lot of people passed didn't help her."
The main suspects are two security guards he hired at his bar - one a lawman, the other an ex cop:
Chester Williams, Comissioner Of police
"Suspects in this particular incident one is a police officer who is on interdiction and the other is an ex-police officer who has been dismissed months. ago. In respect to the officer who is on interdiction he was hired by the proprietor of that establishment as his security and certainly he is aware of the movements of the proprietor."
Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division
"One of the persons a search was conducted this is Paul Mortis 22 years and he has been charged for the possession of a licensed firearm and ammunition."
Chester Williams, Comissioner Of police
"All indication is showing that while the interdicted police was working the one who had been dismissed was there with him and they were together and so they may have left together to await the proprietor when he got home and moved in on him. Police investigation so far have led to the discovery of a 9mm pistol at the home of the interdicted police who is a fellow Mortis. That firearm will be packaged and will be sent to the national forensic service for examination to determine ion the expended shells found on the scene of the murder robbery are consistent with it having been fired by the gun that was found canceled in his home."
Fernando Polanco, Brother of the deceased
"My brother hired him to protect him not to do something bad to my brother."
San Pedro saw its last murder over a year ago - and this one comes just as the island is preparing for the tourism high season
And Elvis's death has shaken not just his family members but also friends and former employee Danielle Oliva who describes him as an all around good guy.
Danielle Olivia, Friend & former employee
"He. Gave his life also for his wife and it's an injustice what they did to him because as far as we knew he had no enemies because everybody loves him, everybody had a good relationship with him, he was not a problem person, every time he sees a problem he runs away from it or he says you know what I don't want any problem please just stop it. At the bar he treated everybody very good he was, his customers were well-attended. It's unfair what they did to him and I hope this has justice and the person that did this pays for it."
As for Fernando he can only mourn the man he called his partner in life, a brother with whom he emarked upon the San Pedrano dream 18 years ago when they arrived on the island from Benque seeking a better life.
Fernando Polanco, Brother of the deceased
"My brother we are two he and me, we are the only two brothers from our parents and he just lived near my area, we are very close brothers and we um, stick a lot together most of our lives since we were kids and we helped each other a lot so but he is like. A father to me, more than a father to me because we were poor people and we just came to this island to try to make something in life and this is how, this island for staying like that. I am not accusing the island but there are some bad people that don't see that we just came to have a better life like everybody and that was the plan of me and my brother to be in this island."
As you saw Polanco's wife also received gunshots to her hand. She is stable and recovering but had to travel to Belize City today for surgery.
Police believe that in addition to the unlicensed firearm found in Mortis's home, he also has a licensed firearm that they have not been able to find.
