Tonight a family is grieving after a man was shot and killed in the city last night. It had been almost three weeks since we'd had a murder in the city, but tonight, the family of 42-year-old Trenton Webster is mourning their loss.
Webster was right outside his home sometime around 8 when a gunman pulled up on him.
According to those who knew him well, he'd recently returned from the US for a second time. But they had no idea he wouldn't live much longer.
Courtney Menzies visited the home he grew up in and has this story.
Trenton Webster
"My 2019 I can't complain. I was blessed, health, strength, but 2020 look good so far, can't complain, it looks wonderful, I can't complain, I will live this lsife better, 2020 is the year for me. Can't complain at all. So listen, Belize, new year, new rules, try to make life better. Don't look at last year, new year, better things in store. Done say it, Trenton."
But while 42-year-old Trenton Webster was optimistic about his future, less than three years later, he was killed in cold blood.
Webster was standing a few feet away from his home off Rasta Street when he was targeted by a gun man. He'd reportedly been waiting for someone who'd gone to the store to buy something for him, but before he could get it, he was shot and left to die in a pool of blood.
But in his four decades alive, Webster has lived in both Belize City and the US. As a child he grew up at the "Wax House" on East Collect Canal. And today we spoke to the woman who was like a sister to him growing up.
Voice of: Maureen Ireland, Family Friend of Deceased
"I've known Trenton since I was a baby, we raised up together. When he was a child growing up, he went to Wesley Primary School and his mother ended up filing for him, taking him to the US. And growing up in the US, he ended up coming back to Belize for a while."
"He's a fun person to talk to, he likes to give jokes, some serious jokes and he doesn't mean it and people would feel like he means his jokes but he's not like that."
Courtney Menzies:
"How close were you after he came back to Belize?"
Voice of: Maureen Ireland, Family Friend of Deceased
"We were not that close because of his jokes, his jokes are hurtful sometimes but we talk a lot, laugh and have fun sometimes."
Webster had been deported from the US, then went back for a bit before returning to Belize a few months ago. But Ireland had no idea someone was out to get him. Even though they weren't so close, she still felt the grief deeply.
Voice of: Maureen Ireland, Family Friend of Deceased
"I started crying and after that everybody started to text and call and then I just took off my phone because I couldn't handle it."
"The last time I saw him was last week Thursday when he came to visit his adopted mom for her birthday."
Courtney Menzies:
"And he never told you, I might be in trouble, something might be wrong?"
Voice of: Maureen Ireland, Family Friend of Deceased
"No he did not, he just came and talked, kissed her, and told her, what you're having a birthday party, and I will come. Only that."
And according to her, Webster usually spent his days laughing and looking good.
Voice of: Maureen Ireland, Family Friend of Deceased
"His day to day is just driving around, sometimes taking people "make clown," that's it."
"The only next thing I know about him is that he likes to dress, he's a, he likes bling bling, put on his nice chain and undershirt and he likes to workout."
He leaves behind one infant daughter.
We note that back in 2013, Webster was convicted of robbing a Magistrate's Court Clerk of $7,000. dollars.
