Tonight, members of the Lebanese community in San Pedro are up in arms over the murders of David Harmouch and Daniel Jones-and gunshot injuries to two other men of Lebanese descent.
This afternoon they staged an impromptu protest by blocking the roads outside the San Pedro Police Station. Area Representative Andre Perez and Mayor Wally Nunez were seen trying to calm them down, promising deliberate action and asking them to leave. They eventually left but demanded that someone be held liable for the murders.
Indeed, it was a ruthless, coordinated hit on David Harmouch inside his business. Jaleeza Roberts has this report from San Pedro:
Today, Lebanese owned businesses across San Pedro Town closed in mourning for the country man, David Harmouch who was murdered along with security guard Daniel Jones at Island Supermarket in the Tres Cocos area. They were killed and two other men, Iman and Ahmad Harmouch were also shot and received serious injury.
It was a coordinated attack by multiple armed men who arrived by boat.
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"Information is that all four male persons were at island supermarket when four male persons arrived at the supermarket armed with firearms who fired several shots towards their direction causing the fatal injuries to 2 and injuries to the other 2. There after the male persons ran away across the street, thereafter they boarded a vessel which then headed south of the island we are currently conducting a thorough investigation and we have persons in custody and the investigation continues at this time."
Police are reviewing surveillance video from the area - but unravelling this violent attack requires context: 6 months ago - well equipped criminals burglarized the Supermarket and set it on fire - that was only three days after it opened:
Reporter-
"Do you believe that this incident is linked to the arson back in December?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"We do not know at this time."
Reporter-
"Did you ever manage to get anyone in that case?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"No that investigation did not reveal any evidence to charge anyone at the time."
And now they have an even more perplexing and urgent case - there was no robbery element, just murder:
Reporter
"Can you confirm if anything was stolen in last night's burglary? Or was it a targeted hit in Mr Harmouche?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"We can confirm that nothing was stolen from the supermarket."
Reporter
"We know that Mr Harmouche has a number of six figure civil judgments pending against him might this have been why he was targeted?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, HNCIB
"That is an angle we are pursuing I know he has some matters in civil court."
This brutal murder comes as a shock to the community; David was well known as a businessman, and a battler for the UDP. David's cousin told us about him:
Wissam Harmouch, Cousin of David Harmouch (deceased)
"David was a good person, he was a humble, hardworking man. He's been living here for so long already like I said I was there from 2007 so apparently he's been for like 20 years and he became a citizen. He's married to a Belizean girl and they have 6 or 7 child already, like I said I know him as a good person, humble man, he was always smiling, working, doing his thing so I don't really know what happened there. As a family we are seeking justice, we are asking all the authority to find out what happened there, what's going on, why this tragedy happened."
The cold-blooded calculation of the attack and the ruthless efficiency of the perpetrators has the community wondering who or what's next:
Wissam Harmouch, Cousin of David Harmouch (deceased)
"Yesterday was David, today could be me and tomorrow could be any other person. It's not like, you're not safe anymore."
Daniel Jones, the security guard was remembered as a family man, recently have left teaching at Holy Cross Anglican School, to work security full time.
Overwhelmed, the sister in law says that they will leave this callous killing in the hands of God:
Voice of: Rosalba Cowo, Sister in Law of Daniel Jones (deceased)
"He was like a dad to my sons, my sons will really really miss him. We will truly miss him, we will remember him everyday. His smile, his positive, his hard work."
Reporter
"And if there's one thing that you could say to the persons that did this to him. What would you tell them?"
Rosalba Cowo, Sister in Law of Daniel Jones (deceased)
"I will leave everything in God's hand."
So while the friends and families of both persons are left to mourn, the question remains, what could have led to this? Jaleeza Roberts, 7 news.
According to reports, close to 60 expended shells were found at the scene from four gunmen.
