As we’ve been reporting, everything changed yesterday when police
shot and killed a farmer during the standoff at Tower Hill. But who is this
unknown farmer? He is 44 year old Atanacio Gutierrez from San Victor Village.
Police say that given the circumstances - the shooting was justified but the
killing has outraged his fellow caneros and has destroyed a family. Our team
travelled to San Victor today.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is video of the frantic moments after Atanacio Gutierrez was shot in his
head by police and footage of his body being placed into pan of a pickup for
transportation to the hospital. He was already dead and there was nothing doctors
could do.
Today we visited Gutierrez’s home in San Victor Village where he found 
his distraught sister.
Silvina Gutierrez, Sister of Deceased
“Well they are angry because they shouldn’t have killed my little
brother like that. The children that remain will suffer now. It is the police
that shot him with big bullets that they showed on TV.”
For Cane Farmers CEO Carlos Magana, Gutierrez’s death at the hands of
law enforcement officers was avoidable.
Carlos Magana, CEO – Cane Farmers Assoc.
“It is very regrettable losing a life. Nothing can be done, nothing.
You may do whatever you want to but nothing can be done. We had a complete discussion
of this, this morning. The association will run with all the expenses. We will
also develop a special fund for the education of the six children that are there.
We know there are many institutions who want to help in that funding. The Association
will open it for the children and for the mom; it will be managed by the mother.
And then on the second of February, from now onwards, was declared through a
unanimous vote, it will be a holiday on his memory on the sugar industry every
year.”
The remarkable footage of Gutierrez’s body was courtesy our friends
at CTV-3 in Orange Walk. As Carlos Magana mentioned, February 2nd will now be
a holiday for cane farmers in memory of Anstacio Felix Gutierrez. His funeral is still
being planned but the cane farmers intend to transport his body through the
entire Corozal and Orange Walk Districts prior to burial.
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