Tonight, a mother of three is dead and her family is grieving. She was a bartender and waitress at Da Buzz restaurant and lounge in Belize City - known for her nice ways, but tonight Salma Orellana Funez is just another saddening statistic - the second femicide this week.
Jaleeza Roberts reports on a baffling murder - where the main suspect is only 16 years old. We warn you that this story contains strong depictions of gun violence:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Police have detained a 16 year old male minor in connection with an ongoing investigation into a shooting incident that resulted in the murder of 34 year old Salma Orellano Funez and injury of Shayanta Williams, and Cardova Neal."
This surveillance footage that shows a small - built man wearing a bucket hat and mask walking into Da Buzz Lounge at around 6:30pm yesterday evening.
Once inside, he walked towards 34 year old Salma Raquel Orellana Funez - a long time employee at the bar.
It appears that he initiated a conversation with her - but she seemed to be ignoring him.
After 20 seconds of him talking at her - he pulled out a gun from his side, and she casually tossed what appears to be a phone on the counter top. He snatched the phone and immediately started firing shots directly at her. As she collapsed to the ground, he stood over her and continued.
He then turned the weapon on other women inside the establishment and fled. You can see two women running out before him.
Funez died on the spot - but what were they arguing about that could so quickly have escalated to such a violent end?
Police are closer to knowing after recovering the weapon
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Sometime around 11:30PM last night having reviewed a number of video footages this male minor was apprehended I can also confirm that just a short while ago the firearm that was suspected to have been used in the incident was also recovered."
Reporter
"Is he cooperating with police."
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Yes he is."
Reports to 7News indicate that the shooter, a young man who's only 16 years old - had lived with her when he was 14 and the two were very familiar.
Reporter
"Prior to her being shot they had a long interaction almost as if they knew one another can you say if they had any relationship?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"What I can confirm is that the victim and the accused that is in detention were familiar with each other."
Whatever the their personal history, It certainly was not a random shooting. According to her brother in law, the shooter was demanding the phone that's when chaos erupted:
Joshua Trapp, Brother-In-Law
"The only thing that we can understand from eyewitness is the person went direct to her and asked her for her phone so, the question is why, who is he, you know we cannot answer that question as yet."
Reporter
"It would appear that he went in there specifically for that phone is there any reason why he wanted that phone from her?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Possible theory to that that is being explored is that there was some indication that he may have threatened her before and those messages would have been on the phone, so it is suspected that him in his puerile state thought taking away the phone allows him to cover the evidence but as I said it is an ongoing investigation and we do anticipate we will provide further update on Monday."
Reporter
"So police have the phone in their possession?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"No the phone is not in police's possession."
There are reports that she had been receiving threats via text message.
Funez was a single mother of three and her brother in law describes her as doing everything possible to ensure they had a good life:
Joshua Trapp, Brother-In-Law
"Salma was a very very hardworking person, very very cool person I would say you know all that she as interested to do was to work for her three kids."
"As far as I know her, Ive known her for the past 10 years and she's all about work to home work to home you know I can't say what she does on her off time more than you know hang out with her kids, her kids were her life you know so that's basically it."
She will not be returning to her kids - making for a tragedy stricken mother's day weekend. While grappling with this, the family is hoping that justice will prevail:
Joshua Trapp, Brother-In-Law
"To start we have to pick up the pieces right now and try to figure out what will be the outcome of the investigation of the police and basically move on from there."
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"There is not much that is known at this moment however we are hopeful as the investigation continues, more clarity will be brought because certainly this is an incident that has you know touched a lot of persons and more so now learning that it was a 16 year old minor is the person that was implicated it certainly takes it at least for me to another more concerning level."
Joshua Trapp, Brother-In-Law
"The good Lord is not sleeping and you know we just hope that justice prevails from this whole situation that is here."
Reports say the main suspect has been detained as police try to piece together why Salma was killed. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Notably, police found the gun and clothes the suspect was wearing in the savannah behind his house.
