The second murder we're reporting on happened further out West in Santa Elena on Sunday night. This one is likely the result of gang retaliation in ongoing disputes in the area. We note that this is the same town where three weeks ago, Cabinet pledged to, quote, "round up…ALL gang elements operating in San Ignacio and Santa Elena."
Well, it didn't stop yet another retaliation.
Jomarie Lanza found out more from the aunt of the deceased.
30 year old Anthony Smith was gunned down in the presence of his cousins in front of this Chinese restaurant on Sunday night. Smith had left his home in Santa Elena unaware of the eyes that trailed him, and the shooter waited until his back was turned to the restaurant counter before releasing his first bullet. his aunt spoke to us off camera:
Voice of: Aunt of deceased
"Well what I hear last night my three other nephews were with him so it was family all together. They say they went to the Chinese to buy a fry chicken and right there while they were waiting for the fry chicken they ordered they say the guy came right up to them with a gun and the boy shoot. After the first shot he fell and then the guy took the gun and shot him again. So they picked him up and took him to the hospital but before they got to the hospital they say he died."
Jo
"How many times was he shot?"
Voice of: Aunt of deceased
"Two, so he got two shots and they fired two shots at the other cousins. The other cousins who were with him say that they fired two shots at them. So they backed off and all they did, because they were so scared and didn't know what to do all they did was put him behind a pickup truck and they left with him. And the guy left on a cycle because they say he was on a cycle. But because of the helmet they didn't know you know like exactly who was the person because he had on a Helmet."
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"Investigation revealed thatSmith was sitting in front of the restaurant when a motorcycle came and a male person came off the motorcycle and fired several shots towards his direction causing his fatal injuries. We have several people detained in regards to this murder."
But Smith has been living in the face of danger for months. Another shooting that dates back to November of 2023 details how Smith was detained in connection to the shooting of a well known gang figure in Santa Elena. His aunt concedes that her nephew did have enemies.
Voice of: Aunt of deceased
"Well you know two times we heard that they came around here shooting in a car and then in another time they say it was on cycle. But they reported it and police didn't do anything."
"You know when it's young people they always have enemies so you don't know more or less but I think the police know but sometimes you know police like to say lies too you can't believe in police and you can trust police."
"Well right now the mom is taking it hard. The girl is taking it hard because he has a common law wife with two kids, a little girl and a little boy. They are taking it very very hard. They are taking it very hard; this is a very hard blow to the family."
Now the family is left to bury this father of three. And his aunt says she will remember him as the loving little boy she knew growing up
Voice of: Aunt of deceased
"Well I remember him as a good little boy, I remember him as a good little boy growing up. He likes to drink but you know most young people like to drink and so, but like a bad person I don't know my nephew that way and I can't say that he is bad. My nephew is a good boy especially to me because he loved me. I am the aunty he loved."
