A young father-to-be was gunned down on Woods Street last night, after three weeks of no reported murders in Belize City. 23-year-old Dimitrie Usher was inside his yard when the gunman, who had been waiting for him to return home, killed him over the fence, only a couple months before the birth of his child. His family is now left shocked, awaiting the police's investigation. Courtney Menzies visited them today and has this story.
23-year-old Dimetrie Usher was looking forward to finding a new job and becoming a father, but a gunman took his life before he could meet his unborn child.
He had stepped out around 8 to go to the store and was already back inside his gate when a gunman reached over the Constitution Park fence and shot him three times.
His family was at home and heard the gunshots:
Voice of: Stepfather
"We ran out and when we run out, and according to what they say, when we ran out, his uncle was on the street and he stoned him with a pint, and he fired shots at him too. The person had something over his face but the cameras caught him because we have cameras and they caught him so the police are doing the investigation right now. But the thing is, the boy doesn't go anywhere, he stays right here in the yard, he bothers nobody but it's the people who hang in the yard."
"A couple years ago they came already to make an attempt at him. I guess they were successful coming back this time."
But though he was targeted twice, his stepfather explained that he doesn't really go out and cause trouble.
Voice of: Stepfather
"Me, I don't know him as a troublemaker or a gangbanger because he just stays home and doesn't bother anyone. He just stays here, only thing is he stays here and smokes his weed, he stays here, some of his friends come to hail him, and he smokes his little weed. But as far as bad boy, no. plus he has his girl, the young lady is looking to have his baby, first child."
"He likes music, he likes listening, he likes hanging out with his friend. He doesn't go and fool with people. It's kind of shocking because we didn't expect this. Usually, the thing happen around when we usually go in our bed early, so he just went to buy a lighter to come back."
"When they picked him up, he still wasn't dead yet. When they took him in the back, he was talking about, my baby, my baby. And looks like he died on the way."
And while his child will never meet him, his family is now preparing to bury him.
Voice of: Stepfather
"It's rough because right now we have to figure how we will bury him, we have to come up with the money to bury him so we have to figure that out. Then we haven't slept all night. It's rough. So by me being the step-father, I mean, it hit me hard, but not as hard as… you know. But it really hit me hard because we were just trying to get him… it's rough right now."
Police have one suspect in custody at this time.
