And in crime news, a mechanic was killed over the weekend while he was working. 35-year-old Jarim Armstrong was gunned down in Ladyville, leaving his family wondering who could have wanted him dead. But according to Armstrong's brother, he wasn't exactly a saint. Courtney Menzies spoke with him today and has this story.
On Sunday afternoon, a mechanic was killed in broad daylight in Ladyville. 35-year-old Jarim Armstrong was working on a vehicle when two gunmen took his life. Police say that the suspects specifically targeted him, but they don't know why just yet.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"The information is that he was working on a vehicle for a period of time there and that is why he was targeted."
Courtney Menzies:
"Any motive?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"No motive at this time."
Reporter:
"Do police believe the suspects are from rural Belize or Belize City."
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"We believe they are from Belize City."
And Armstrong's brother said that while the news devastated him, it didn't surprise him.
Voice of: Frank Armstrong, Brother of Deceased
"The pain hit my heart and I began to cry because it hurt me bad so eye water began to flow and I asked God to give me the grace to accept the reality."
"I was the one who brought him from San Ignacio to Belize City because we're all from San Ignacio and I brought him up and he used to live with me. I treated him like my own son and I taught him. He was a good worker, trouble people, like to give trouble but not to the extent that he would go and kill anybody or anything like that, but yes he used to give trouble, the normal trouble young people give, that's all I can tell you concerning his life."
Courtney Menzies:
"Did you ever expect something like this to happen?"
Voice of: Frank Armstrong, Brother of Deceased
"Kinda, because of the reckless life that they live. They live very reckless and they don't know that Satan exists and he's going around killing off young people. And I try to tell them, Satan is out there and if you don't put your trust into God, they could cut you down because the word of God is the only hope we have."
But while he may have been a troublemaker, his brother said he worked hard for his money.
Voice of: Frank Armstrong, Brother of Deceased
"First of all, the man liked to work. He liked to work because that's what we learned from our father, to work because that's how you survive, how you live, through working. He liked to give trouble and so but he liked to work."
And Armstrong is the third murder victim this year to be killed in rural Belize, but he's the first who was shot. We asked Romero if police suspect a migration of gang affiliates.
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"We are looking closely at these three murders that have happened in that area and we will see how we can improve our strategy in that area cause this is the third murder now that has occurred there."
Armstrong had two children.
