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But despite the fact that they were both grown, working men, they had an ongoing rivalry and had reportedly been in public arguments twice last night. That culminated in the shooting - which took the life of a well known resident of San Ignacio. Monica Bodden has this report:....

Monica Bodden Reporting
The murder of 38 year old Beel Efrain Cruz happened early this morning-outside this nightclub called Legends 2000 in San Ignacio town. Townspeople say that Cruz and 42 year Emilio Awe- who is the accused trigger man - had been involved in an ongoing dispute.

Earlier last night, the two got into an altercation at the Sunset Bar where reports say that Cruz - who is the deceased - broke a bottle on the table Awe was sitting at and threatened to slit his throat. Cruz then left Sunset Bar and made his way to Legends 2000.

At around 1:45 while leaving the club - Awe met him outside the doorway - where another exchange took place - this time Awe pulled out his black and chrome 9 millimeter pistol and emptied it on Cruz - almost at point black range.

Inspector Claudio Mai - Deputy Officer Commanding San Ignacio… This morning at about 1:45 acting upon information received, police visited the Bullet Tree road in front of legends bar where they saw the body laying down on the ground, who they identified as Efrain Cruz he was found to have multiple gunshot wound to the upper part of the body. He was transferred do the San Ignacio community hospital where he was pronounce dead on arrival…

After Awe pulled the trigger, he jumped into this blue car and drove himself home. Inspector Claudio Mai - Deputy Officer Commanding San Ignacio…

"Prompt police response lead to the detention of one Alfonso Awe who is presently in police custody, who we believe that can assist us greatly in this investigation."

Owner of Legends 2000 nightclub Morrison Banner told us what he understands took place.

Morrison Banner, Owner, Legends 2000
"I was informed that the incident actually started at another location downtown call Sunset Bar, I was also made to understand that the deceased left the and came back to my establishment setting inside and I don't know exactly know how long after the guy who used the weapon came and followed him, when he got here apparently he walked through the building saw him sitting down and one of my waitress told him that, because he know him, he come here you know and informed him that we did not have any black label because that's basically what he drinks so he said ok give me three lighthouse and he stayed there he then got up, who is the deceased Mr. Cruz ten got up and was walking out and apparently something transferred and then he got shot."

According to the Cayo Star newspaper, 9 expended 9 millimeter casings were recovered on the scene.

Alfonso Cruz - former Mayor of San Ignacio town and the brother of the deceased told us when he arrived on the scene this morning - his brother was already dead - laying face down in a pool of blood.

Alfonso Cruz - Brother
"They call me and told me that they had just kill me brother, they shot him dead so I went to, they said it was at Legends Club, so went to there and went to find out and when I reach there I saw my brother lying on the floor in a pool of blood, and I saw, well according to what I heard the different people there a man by the name of Emilio Awe had shot him, had enter the entire magazine on him."

According to Inspector Mai, so far there isn't a motive for this morning's murder.

Inspector Claudio Mai - Deputy Officer Commanding San Ignacio
"The investigation continues, I cannot duel into it because I believe that this can jeopardize my case so I would want to duel into other nitty gritty of it, but I can safely tell you that so far we believe that we have a good case in our hands."

And even though police have no motive for this murder, the talk around the town is that - Cruz was involved in a love triangle that had gone bad.

Alfonso Cruz - Brother
"They had little misunderstandings and I don't really know what was the reason for the misunderstanding you know but I understand that they had a verbal exchange once, a hustle verbal exchange and whenever my brother use to encounter him they use to all ways, I don't know what the use were fussing about, but then it looks like this time Mr. Awe decided to take well, Kill him you know decided to shot him."

Monica Bodden
"Now the talk is about another woman being involved like a love triangle, you know anything about that?"

Alfonso Cruz - Brother
"No I don't know anything about that no, because my brother is a friendly person he gets along with a lot of people I mean he has friends all about he is a friendly person I don't know my brother is a person that is also giving trouble on the streets he is a man that is always, he is a town councilor and he is a trade license and liquor license officer there and he is always all around town meetings and greeting people, but I don't know I don't have any knowledge of any love triangle"

According to reports , Cruz was shot at least 9 times to the chest area.

Alfonso Cruz - Brother
"What is vivid on my mind is when I saw him on the floor and the way how they shot him with that anger and hatred that the guy had for my brother."

Monica Bodden
"How many gun shots did he receive do you know?"

Alfonso Cruz - Brother
"I heard that the guy shot about 9 gun shots."

Monica Bodden
"To the what? What part of the body?"

Alfonso Cruz - Brother
"Well, To the chest, to the head I think he was shot and also on his hand, i saw his in the hospital and i saw a he had like a bullet wound on his head and also on the chest."

Today as this black bow hangs on the door of the San Ignacio - Santa Elena Town Council - this brother says he wants justice….

Alfonso Cruz - Brother
" I still don't believe it, it is really hard to believe I mean because my brother is young and strong and for him use to go like that, I mean its hard I would like to see justice because the way they kill my brother, they like him like and animal. What I understand is that the guy went and shot him on the chest and he went to stop and he continued shooting my brother and when he fell to the ground he still shot him while on the ground and just like shooting an animal."

Emilio Awe is the owner of PACZ Tours and has reportedly given police a caution statement. According to the Cayo star newspaper, when police went to his house shortly after the murder, he handed himself over and also gave them what is believed to be the murder weapon, a black and chrome nine millimeter Smith & Wesson pistol.

According to the Cayo Star, about a month ago the Cruz reportedly punched Awe in the mouth while he was buying food from a Burns Avenue street vendor.

And, a few weeks ago, the accused reportedly found a bottle near doorway of his house said to have contained a threatening note to the effect that the accused and his family will be killed.

The Star reports that a preliminary inspection of the body revealed at least nine wounds to the upper chest of the deceased.

Emilio Alfonso "Chubs" Awe remains in police custody waiting to be formally arrested and charged.