Shots rang out at 12:30 this afternoon at the corner of Amara Avenue and Dean Street as students of St Ignacio Primary School were out for lunch and a line had already formed at Kick Down Fence. The crowd scattered as Edward Saldano Jr, otherwise known as Scrubby, fought for his life - a fight which ultimately proved futile.
Saldano was a notorious gang figure who had been targeted in the past. And aside from the many witnesses of his demise, the entire ordeal was captured on surveillance cameras.
Jomarie Lanza broke down the events leading up to his murder. Here's that story.
It was the peak of the lunch hour in the city when as many as 13 shots rang out off Amara Avenue, sending school children and parents scattering to all corners, fearing for their lives. It was at the intersection of Amara Avenue and Dean Street where 26 year old Edward Saldano Jr was cornered by his killer in broad daylight. And from the footage we obtained Saldano refused to go down without a fight.
Just minutes before he was captured on surveillance video riding his bike down Amara Avenue when he was approached by an armed individual just before crossing Dean Street. It started as a verbal confrontation that quickly unfolded into horror before the watchful eyes of residents, and the crowd purchasing food at Kick Down Fence.
As the shooter withdrew his weapon, Saldano sprung off his bicycle, first attempting to grab the weapon from his hand, without success, resulting in jumping onto his back in defense. But things took a grim turn from there. And the shooter never stopped firing until Saldano was down on the pavement bleeding out.
Seconds after a grey taxi van is then seen reversing into frame, as the driver steps out attempting to render assistance to Saldano, and with the help of bystanders they lifted him into the back of the vehicle and hightailed it off the scene to the hospital.
Saldano unfortunately was pronounced dead minutes later at the KHMH. ASP Stacy Smith provided us with those details.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"Police are investigating a shooting incident which led to the death of 26 year old Edward Saldano of an Amara avenue address in Belize city. The investigation commenced on Thursday 5th of March at approximately 12:20 Pm when officers in the precinct 1 area were alerted to the sounds of shots being fired in the vicinity of Amara Avenue. Officers proceeded to that location where they observed several expended shells and some blood on the scene the investigators proceeded to that Karl Heusner memorial hospital where they learned that the victim in that shooting incident was Mr Saldano. What the investigation has so far disclosed is that Mr Saldano was walking on Dean street when it is that he was accosted by a male person who is believed to have been known by him and a dispute arose and the male person, and this was captured on police camera, was seen retrieving a firearm which he used to fire several shots which resulted in the demise of Mr Saldano."
Given Saldano's criminal history, police are still working to establish a motive.
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"One male person has since been detained in the course of this ongoing investigation. No clear motive has been established as yet."
The last time we interviewed Saldano was back in 2021 not long after his father had been murdered. Saldano was accused of escaping police custody at that time and was wanted for questioning in an unrelated case. He turned himself in, and today we took a look back at that interview that now has a harrowing perspective to it.
Daniel Ortiz:
"Is it possible that his killing was linked to some enemy of yours?"
Edward Saldano Jr.
"I feel like they just wanted to take advantage of my father to get to me. They chanced him because my father is a hardworking man. He doesn't bother anyone with trouble. He goes anywhere. He helps everyone. He is here for all of us, and now, they have left us without a father."
