Last night we told you about the 16-year-old from Roaring Creek who was killed by the creek side in a gunfire ambush.
16-year-old Dane Matute and his 14-year-old cousin Kalen Wade had been enjoying themselves with friends at the edge of Guanacaste Park when gunfire from the other side of the river ended Dane's life and injured Kalen in the leg.
And this morning when our 7News team travelled west we found a riverbank so perfect it could come out of a storybook and a mother who was simply grateful that her young son survived this attempt on his life, even though his cousin wasn't nearly as lucky. Cherisse Halsall reports:
Last night we told you about a pair of cousins late afternoon swim that turned deadly when the elder of the two,16-year-old Dane Matute, was killed by an unknown gunman.
This morning we talked to the mother of the boy who survived:
Voice of: Kalen's Mom
"Well it was shocking to me yesterday because I knew I had left them home and so when I came out and I got this call it was really shocking."
"Well, I don't really know what went on because I wasn't at home. I went out yesterday at 2 past 11 and I went to see my son at the Belize Central Prison and when I came out from my visit that is when I got a call where they told me about the shot Dane and they shot Kalen."
And yesterday after the incident, police were scouring the area for clues, and perhaps even the murder weapon.
We asked Kalen's mom what, if anything, could have been the reason behind the attack.
Cherisse Halsall:
"But you heard this is a gang-related shooting?"
Voice of: Kalen's Mom
"No, I don't know anything about any gang-related, I know it's not the first time they go to the creek to bathe, it's like almost every day and I don't know it seems like what is the problem."
Cherisse Halsall:
"When you live in Roaring Creek, the creek is your sanctuary, you think that nothing bad can happen to you at the creek, how do you feel now about just that basic swim that your boys took for granted?"
Voice of: Kalen's Mom
"I don't really know what to think because like this is the first time something like that happened, something like that happened there, you know."
Now, this family who lost one boy, and nearly lost another is struggling to move forward without ever being able to forget.
Cherisse Halsall:
"Talk to me about how Kalen is doing today."
Voice of: Kalen's Mom
"Well, he's okay thank god for that and I will have to take him back to the hospital after this so we will see what's going on from there."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Have you spoken to Mr Matute's mom, how is she doing in light of his passing?"
Voice of: Kalen's Mom
"Well, I spoke to her yesterday, she and I went to the morgue and we saw Dane, she was crying, and it's just that mien."
Police have two known suspects who they are looking for - one of them reportedly a minor.
Kalen Wade is expected to undergo surgery in a few days but for now, he's been sent home to rest and try to recover.
