Earlier in the news, we told you about two teenagers who'd been killed over the weekend. But two adults also lost their lives after they were shot in separate incidents.
The second incident occurred on Saturday night, when Ricardo Borja arrived at this apartment building in the Coney Drive area. He didn't even exit his vehicle before a barrage of bullets flew towards him. He was killed, and his girlfriend injured.
Now the question is, who ambushed him, and why? Courtney Menzies has this story.
28-year-old Ricardo Borja was a businessman, a Red Cross volunteer, and a father, but on Saturday night, a bullet took him away from everyone who loved him.
It happened here, right outside his apartment building, seconds after he'd arrived home around 11:30. He'd just shut down his vehicle when gunshots rang out, and after the smoke cleared, Borja lay dead. And up to this morning, the police hadn't figured out a motive.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"He was transferred to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. At the time, Ricardo Borja was in the company of a female who we believe is his girlfriend. She sustained one graze and was treated and released. At this time, we don't have a motive for that particular incident but we're looking at several different angles with that investigation."
And the news of Borja's death came as a shock to many who knew him. For his Red Cross family, they knew him as someone who would go above and beyond to help those in need.
Terrence Woodye, First Aid CPR Instructor
"We do have a chat group for our staff and it was posted there, it was a shock for us. You know, the Red Cross Family Members have known [Ricardo] as a young man, he was always willing, he was always a dedicated volunteer, as a matter of fact, he always said that Red Cross actually helped raised him. He was always here, he started out as a youth volunteer and he worked his way up until he became a youth leader. He was always active with the youths and whenever it was time for field work during disasters, he was always there in the field, assisting doing relief supplies and taking assessments."
"He was a field person, he liked to work with the volunteer but he was mostly a field person, being out in the field, going out to family members, trying to assist them in whatever he can, giving relief supplies and so on."
Courtney Menzies:
"Did he ever say what it was about helping people that he liked so much?"
Terrence Woodye, First Aid CPR Instructor
"I think helping people for him was just the sense or the relief that he could have helped someone. There's no pay that you can get for it, but just that good feeling that you helped someone today and their life is a bit better than before."
Courtney Menzies:
"And outside of work, what type of person was he in terms of being a friend?"
Terrence Woodye, First Aid CPR Instructor
"He was a very friendly person, he made friends with all the staff here at Red Cross. As I mentioned, he was not only a friend but more like a son or a brother to the Belize Red Cross. He was always willing and a matter of fact, I can recall from this last disaster, Hurricane Lisa, he actually got his whole staff out at our old headquarters, he came and he helped us to clean up and he got us up and running again with his whole entire staff."
So who would target a man who gave his time and energy to help others? Well, the police are saying that Borja may have been involved in some suspect dealings.
Jules Vasquez:
"Sir we know that he was a businessman with a big land enterprise. Might it have been something related to the conduct of his business, etc.?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"We're getting several information that are negative towards him, in terms of his involvement in different activities, but I am not going to go into details with those, and yes, it could be that it is one of those that may have led to his death and so we are looking at every possible angle that we can pursue in respect to this matter."
As you heard, Borja's girlfriend was injured as well. He leaves behind two daughters.
Sources tell us that Borja had a number of complaints and lawsuits pending against him for substantial sums - claiming land fraud.
His family declined comment.
