7 News Belize

TWO SLAIN IN COLD BLOODED SHOOTING AT TEXACO GAS STATION
posted (December 1, 2010)
In 2010 - Belize City has witnessed a record number of killings - but a double murder that happened last night at the Texaco gas station at mile one a half on the northern highway has left the city reeling. A security guard was killed along with a well-known city resident, who was just filling up.

He is David Longsworth - son of popular pastor Howell Longsworth - killed in front of his wife and young son.

As Monica Bodden found out, the murder demonstrates the random and gratuitous nature of violence in the city - and the wide imprint of grief and loss that it leaves behind:…

Monica Bodden Reporting
The Texaco Gas Station at Mile 1 ½ on the Northern Highway became the scene of a double homicide last night.

When we arrived - this was what it looked like, the body of security guard -42 year old Edgar Ayala - laid dead in a pool of blood - near this phone top-up booth.

While the body of 39 year old David Longsworth, was already transported to the KHM, Scenes of crime investigators processed the bloody scene - while heavily armed guards lined the area.

The body of Ayala was placed on a stretcher - covered with a black garbage bag and put into the pan of this police pickup truck where it was transported to the City's morgue.

On the scene last night we spoke with Police Press Officer, Fitzroy Yearwood.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Sometime around 6:45 pm a security officer was on duty at the Texaco North Start service Station and two armed men walk in this area where the security was working, they open fire on the security and eventually a civilian that was purchasing fuel at the time - they open fire at him also injuring and he was rush to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he succumb to his injuries whilst undergoing treatment sometime around 7 pm. The security officer unfortunately died on the spot."

It happened around 6:45 last night - when 4 men walked up on Ayala - and fired two shots at him at point black range. He was shot in the right side of his jaw and neck and died on the spot.

Ayala was a security guard for Fort Point Security Company and had been working with them for one year.

Martin Yama - Chief Supervisor, Fort Point Security Services
"I immediately proceeded to the scene along with some other guards and on my arrival I saw a body who I recognize to be our security guard who is Rene Edgar Ayala, he is in our employment just about a year ago and what happen is we provide security service to the Texaco gas station there and from inquiries when I arrive there is that I understand that he was doing some patrols in the area and apparently he did not see the intruders going by and as a result he was attack from behind by the gunman, he was drinking something and as soon as he set the drink down the gunman attack him. His firearm was stolen from him while he was lying on the ground, that's my understanding. "

At the time, David Longsworth - a customer -was at the gas pump - when one of the men walked up to his window and fired several shots at him.

He was hit in the chest, right arm and left shoulder. His wife along with his 8 year old son was also inside the vehicle. She was grazed to the stomach by one of the bullets. After the shooting, the 4 men fled the scene with Edgar Ayala's .38 revolver.

Howell Longsworth - Father
"My daughter told me that when they were at the gas station and they heard the shot she said 'Dave they just shot that man' and then Dave started to start the vehicle and the fellow just ran towards the car and started firing and apparently from what I understand Ursula said that Dave tried to protect her from the shot and she got a grave across the belly and Dave got 3 shots in his chest and according to the doctor it was his lungs that had collapse and he couldn't make it. It happens so fast that they didn't have time to even drive away. The shots that were fire - she heard it and then apparently Dave turns around and saw the fellow and when the fellow recognizes that Dave saw him, he ran and shot David."

For these two families - there are not enough words to express the grief of losing their loved one. Ayala's oldest son told us how he got the news last night.

Serjio Ayala - Son
"Last night about 7:00 my mom call me and told me that he got shot, so I rush from my house to the scene, but they had already took him to the hospital. So when I saw him in the pick-up I started to cry because he is my father and they told me that he is dead."

Early this morning, Longsworth received a call from police, informing him that they had apprehended 4 men. One of the men is identified as 40 year old Ervin Reneau - a former employee of the Ministry of Works.

Howell Longsworth - Father
"This morning very early the police said that they have apprehended 4 guys and apparently there is a positive identification on them, because there was a video tape from the gas station that identify the men, so that how they were very quickly to get this done."

Monica Bodden
"Did any of the guys confess to this crime?"

Howell Longsworth - Father
"Well I haven't heard any official word but I understand yes they might have."

For the family of Ayala - all they want is justice.

Serjio Ayala - Son
"The crime in Belize is getting out of hand and I hope that the police do their job and find who did it and let justice be done."

Damaris Rosales - Niece
"We really sad because we miss our uncle, he just went and we are missing him already, he was a good guy. We are suffering because he was a nice person; we really miss him right now."

But for the Longsworth family, they are leaving justice to God.

Howell Longsworth - Father
"Well it was very difficult for them and I really want to thank them for supporting us, last night within half an hour of sending out a message, because when we heard it my wife immediately put out a prayer line as we always do for anybody who we know are in trouble to pray for Dave. By half an hour time we had about 50 members of the church congregated at the hospital supporting us and by that time we were able to tell them that Dave didn't make it and so really that was a wonderful support for us that we know that the people who we share the love of God really gave us back the love and we are really grateful for that. That gave us the strength to be able to endure the challenges, it's not an easy thing to lose a son, it's a first time, but I have seen and I have spoken to many people who say about the difficulties of losing a child especially to gun violence, but I don't advocate anger in this. My daughter was able to send me an email this morning, she said 'dad and mom, please find it in your heart to forgive these young men' and as a pastor I have to."

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