Early this morning, two armed men broke into a home in Black Man Eddy - and one of them left in a body bag, fatally chopped with a machete. And, the woman wielding that machete was the 65 year old woman of the house.
It happened around 1:00 am in the western village - and Jomarie Lanza went there today to learn more. Here's her story:
It all begins with this broken window here in Black man Eddy, Cayo District. It was just after 1:00 when the Ireland family was startled awake by 2 intruders in their home. They climbed through this bedroom window where 70 year old Patricia Ireland was sleeping. And from there things escalated into what Jose Ireland, a relative, describes as a traumatic encounter.
José Ireland, Relative
"Well firstly they used a small wooden table and apparently that didn't work so underneath the house there was a small step ladder which they put to a window that was partially opened and with that window they gained access to inside the house which is two persons, two males, one with a firearm and one with nothing else. Hold my first Tia hostage and then told her not to say anything or make any noise this was the gunman but she didn't listen and she did say something and apparently my other aunt heard the situation and came outside to check what was going on and found out there was someone in the house and immediately they started wrestling and where she called for her nephew and a commotion ensued and while that the gunman exited the house leaving the unarmed other assailant inside the house and while the gunman exited the house he fired 3 bullet shots through the window which caused damage inside and outside but I am not able to see inside the house but this is as far as I know."
And like any family would, fearing each other's safety, 65-year-old Nadia Ireland pulled a machete and fatally wounded their attacker. Ireland says that things could have turned out much differently for them, and despite that they made it out unharmed, the family is still in shock of the events.
José Ireland, Relative
"Well we can always imagine this but I feel it for myself somebody got killed. And when these things happen whether it is for good or it's for bad it is a life and it needs attention whether it is good or bad whether it is the bad guy or the good person in this case it was the bad guy which I am grateful for but things could have been a lot worse so at this point and time I am happy that my family survived the ordeal with minimal hurt."
"it's your property and being in your property I would always think that you would do so, fight for your life because it is my property and it belongs to me. It isn't borrowed or doesn't belong to anyone else and you have no right in my place so why would I give you the space? I would have done what she done anyway to put up a good fight and she did and I'm grateful for that."
"There is not much information on that it is something really strange, we are living in the village this doesn't happen all of the time she was even sleeping with the window ajar, meaning that it is pretty much safe never nothing has been planned like this before in life."
Police have identified the deceased as 25-year-old Sergio Andino, a Belizean Construction Worker of San Ignacio Town who has had encounters with law enforcement before.
Police say the three residents of the home, Patricia, Nadia and Eustace Ireland sustained various minor injuries.
