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Gunshot Victim Dumped On A Deadly Road
posted (September 29, 2010)
Crime in the city had slowed since the bloody Sunday of September 12th., but after that lull…this morning, city residents were violently jolted back into reality when a man was shot in the face and thrown unto a deserted road to die. He is 25 year old Be-John Martinez and at around 9:00 he was found on the road just after the Haulover Bridge on the Northern Highway with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

He didn't die immediately though, and passers-by were the first to render aid. Monica Bodden picks up the story:

Monica Bodden, Reporting When we arrived on the scene this morning - CIB investigators were processing the area where 25 year old Bejohn Martinez was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

This bloodstain on the side of the road - marks the spot where he was lying - still gasping for air. He was taken the KHMH - but died shortly after reaching the hospital.

On the scene this morning was police press officer Fitzroy Yearwood.

Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"Around 9:15 this morning we receive information of a shooting that occurred right here on this road, this is a feeder road off Haulover Bridge. Initial investigation reveal that one Bejohn Martinez receives a single gunshot wound to the rear portion of the head. He was transported by ambulance to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he is presently undergoing treatment. For our investigation purposes I would like to just leave it as that."

Today his adoptive mother who had raised Martinez from he was a 9 month old baby - told us - the last time she saw her son was early this morning.

Florine Slusher - Mother
"I see him this morning, he left from here 7:00 this morning because he have a girl at Edward P. Yorke and he usually carry her to school, when he leave here he always tells me that he is going. He never leaves here without telling me that he is going."

Monica Bodden
"When you got the call that your son was shot."

Florine Slusher - Mother
"I don't know what time it was because my daughter came to tell me."

Monica Bodden
"At that time what did you do? You went to the hospital?"

Florine Slusher - Mother
"No I cry. Then after that I went to the hospital and when I see him he had scars on his face and he has a hole at the back of his head."

Monica Bodden
"Like he was fighting?"

Florine Slusher - Mother
"Yes, like he was fighting."

Monica Bodden
"One single gunshot?"

Florine Slusher - Mother
"One single gunshot right at the back of his head."

Martinez was found a couple yards away from the highway - through this feeder road - a little past the Haulover Bridge. It is still uncertain what really happened - but for this mother - all she knows is - within a 3 hour span - her son's life was taken.

Florine Slusher - Mother
"But I don't like it miss too much killing in Belize."

Monica Bodden
"How hard is it for you?"

Florine Slusher - Mother
"It's hard right now. i haven't eat anything yet it's hard, it's very hard."

Monica Bodden
"You never imagine seeing your son not coming back home."

Florine Slusher - Mother
"I never imagine, I never."

Bejohn Martinez was no stranger to the world of criminal activities. In August of 2007 he was charged with attempted murder - after shooting a fruit vendor in an armed robbery attempt.

In 2009 Martinez was in court once more for a robbery incident that took place at Diamond Hotel on the Northern Highway. He was acquitted of those charges - in August of this year.

But even with his long history of criminal charges - his sister told us he was changing for the better.

Keisha Martinez - Sister
"Actually when he went to court he was 9 counts of robbery and he actually wins all of that then he change, he was a totally different person. Actually he just went at Princess to fill out job applications."

According to his sister - Bejohn never mentioned having a problem with anyone.

Monica Bodden
"You think that that lifestyle might have let to what happen this morning?"

Keisha Martinez - Sister
"I don't think so."

Monica Bodden
"You think that he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time?"

Keisha Martinez - Sister
"I want to think so because he and I are close. When he has problems he would come to me and I would always give him advice. He didn't tell me about anyone threatening him. He goes to drop his girlfriend and come back, usually he goes during the day, when he goes during the course of the day he would come home 3 times and then he come home to sleep at night. So when I heard the news this morning it was really devastating, really hard."

Francis Martinez - Father
"Oh man emotions are high, everybody wants to cry and so on. He is sadly missed."

Monica Bodden
"You have raised him from 9 months old, I could just imagine..... "

Francis Martinez - Father
"Up to the time of his untimely death which is today."

Monica Bodden
"You never expected that because it was his normal routine to leave home after 6 in the morning."

Francis Martinez - Father
"After 6, he would come back, so it was a little bit off guard."

Martinez leaves behind his 4 year old son and 5 year old daughter.

Today the roles changed as the family of Bejohn Martinez - a man accused by many of wrongdoing - is now begging for justice.

Florine Slusher - Mother
"I want justice, find justice some kind of way."

Monica Bodden
"You guys want justice for what happen?"

Keisha Martinez - Sister
"Yes and eventually it is something just like all the rest of murders that happens it will go just like that so. We know it will be left unsolved."

Police do not have anyone detained at this time. According to our records as many as 5 other murders have occurred on that road….

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