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And that's where we start in, San Ignacio where at about 1:00 am on Saturday morning, Honduran Julian Lara was working at a gas station when he was attacked by three men. Our 7news team went to the Bullett Tree Road for answers:…

Jules Vasquez Reporting
It was business as usual at Chuc's service station on Bullett Tree Road in San Ignacio today - but on Saturday morning it was a murder scene.

The watchman, 69 year old Julian Lara killed right here in the bar named "The Spot" that adjoins the gas station according to manager Angelito Popper

Angelito Popper, Manager Chuc's Service Station
"He is not too old, he is around in his 60s and he didn't have any arms or any kind of weapon to defend himself."

But despite the fact that he was defenseless and harmless, Lara, who did not carry a weapon was tied up and stabbed to death. Popper found him on the ground:

Angelito Popper, Manager Chuc's Service Station
"His hands were tied to his back and his feet was tied up. Apparently he had 3 stab wounds to the neck and one to the chest."

Jules Vasquez
"They then proceeded to? What did they do?"

Angelito Popper, Manager Chuc's Service Station
"They burglarized the gas station, broke the front door and went away with some money."

Inspector Claudio Mai, Cayo Police
"Cheques, the culprits did went with over $1,500.00 that was in the place."

Popper told us that they believe two strange men who went to the bar to buy cigarettes before closing time may have been casing the place.

Jules Vasquez
"Are you all investigating that it might have been people who went to the bar and cased out the place and then made their move thereafter?"

Inspector Claudio Mai, Cayo Police
"We have sorted out all of that and, yes, that was the modus operandi. Police immediately responded to it and all areas in San Ignacio which resulted in the detention of a person, and immediately thereafter another one and as presently we are seeking for another culprit that we believe can assist us in our investigation. Two of them are natives of the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. The other on is a Belize City resident."

The suspects are a 17 year old and a 25 year old - and while they are held in this case - the area witnessed another assault a few months ago at a Chinese store across the street

Angelito Popper, Manager Chuc's Service Station
"This is our third robbery and the second in about 4 months and our neighbors also - the Chinese grocery shop in about 4 months ago they were burglarized where he was almost killed - knocked on the head with apparently a hammer. The place is now getting a bit out of hand."

Inspector Claudio Mai, Cayo Police
"I wouldn't say Jules that yes it is being targeted only that that Chinese store had been robbed in that location or in the general area. The police would like to ask the business community that there is a need to invest in security features. Nothing invested in security features is a waste of money."

Notably the bar in the gas station compound where Lara was killed was managed by his son who left shortly before his father was killed.

In fact, it seems the killers - who had already done their reconnaissance when they went to buy cigarettes - were just waiting for the bar to close and for everyone to leave before they pounced.

This afternoon we spoke to Lara's daughter in Law Christina Fabro who worked in the bar and sold the cigarettes to the two suspects; she says she and her husband were the last to leave and before they did they served cigarettes to two men familiar to them, who were a ways from home.

Christina Fabro, Daughter in Law of Deceased
"They came in while we were closing and I asked them if they wanted something and the guy said, yes, he said that he wanted one dollar worth of cigarettes - I went in and got it for them. When my husband was coming out of the bar the guy asked him for a lighter but before he got the lighter he passed a comment saying that they are far and they replied that it's their girlfriend that has them here. My husband went in to get them the lighter, they guy came out and said thanks and continue to walk away. I know one of them so when I see the person I recognized him right off hand - he is from Santa Elena and our business is in San Ignacio, that's why my husband passed a comment saying that he is far. Anyways the persons went walking and we came out and got into our car."

Monica Bodden
"You guys strongly believe that it was these two gentlemen who asked you guys for the cigarette even after the store was closed?"

Christina Fabro, Daughter in Law of Deceased
"I strongly believe it's them because when the police came to look for us and we went to the place and see my father in law in our bar murdered I exactly and immediately tell the police this is the person that did it. The police went to pick them up and the boys still had the audacity to go to Happy's Night Club drinking. When the police pick them up and took them to the station, the person I recognized that I know - is from Santa Elena because he lived around my neighborhood - had spots of blood on his shirt and his tennis had sprinkles of blood on it and that is why the police have him. He was the last person that reached at the bar and he was the person who they found with blood sprinkled on him. The person, the other suspect had already signed a statement that it was him that was involved and he gave the name of the other persons that are involved as well. And so now police are looking for the second person."

Monica Bodden
"What was the extent of his injury?"

Christina Fabro, Daughter in Law of Deceased
"He was sliced across his neck, it was open about 2 inches and he had holes the size of 25 cents on his neck."

As Fabro mentioned in the interview, reports are that one of the suspects has given a confession statement in which he says he went along but did not participate in the murder. Police expect to charge them shortly.