Friday's broad daylight street execution of underworld figure Jose Matus - left the city bracing for retaliation. But, thankfully, there has been none - so far.
Today the commissioner of police walked us through the details of the case and said they have managed to find a lead to Matus's murderer. Jomarie Lanza reports.
Since Friday's midday murder of of the North's notorious Jose Matus, police have found the van which two gunmen jumped out of - and opened fire on his driver's side window at close range:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"So far police have located one van which we believe was used by those perpetrated that criminal act and we are currently looking for one suspect at this time."
"The Van is a rental It was rented from an individual here in Belize city. We have the information that the person who rented the van and that's the person we are seeking at this time."
"At this time we believe that the motive may be drug related."
While the Police may have a possible lead to his killer, could the same group of individuals who placed a hit on Matus's life the year before stopped at nothing until he was dead?
According to the Compol, the 48 year old was a walking target, and had been warned of the dangers that the city imposed on his life.
Jo
"Would you be able to say that the last shooting Mr. Matus was involved in is connected to this most recent one?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The truth is for the past three times prior to his death to every time that he would come into the city he would be pursued by those who may have wanted him dead. We had warned him on numerous occasions to try and stay away from the city, seemingly he still came in, and those who were in pursuit of him, managed to caught up with him, and he was eventually killed."
Jo "Would you be able to speak to what was he doing in the area at that time? His relationship to the woman in his vehicle?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Apparently he just picked up one of the young ladies who was walking home and dropped her home right where he was killed. We don't believe that the young ladies had anything to do with his death, per se, he was just doing one of them a favor."
And though no acts of retaliation played out over the long weekend, the commissioner says the police aren't letting down their guard:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I am not going to divulge to the public what our operation strategies are but since Friday we had put in for a certain things to avert any possible retaliation. That is Holding so far and we continue to maintain our presence on the ground and do whatever else we need to do to prevent any retaliation."
Reports tell us the murder has been linked to a city gang.
