7 News Belize

Another City Murder, Third In Nine Days
posted (March 20, 2012)
We don't know if it's the demise of the gang truce or just the rise of a new configuration of craziness but violent gun crimes are becoming all too common in the city again.

There have been two murders in the last 9 days - and tonight there is one more to report.

And again, the word senseless doesn't begin to describe this killing. 47 year old Mechanic Mark Lozano was deliberately shot - apparently - for just being in the area of another shooting - which injured 31 year old Cheray Zetina.

Tonight, she is critical and he is dead.

Monica Bodden has the story:..

Monica Bodden reporting
It was in front of this zinc fence on Balan Street where 31 year old Cheray Zetina was standing along with her boyfriend when she was shot. The incident happened just before 11 last night.

This spot of blood on the ground marks the exact area where she was standing.

The shooter rode up on a bicycle and fired a single shot, hitting Zetina to her upper left arm.

The bullet travelled through her left breast and then exited through the center of her back, leaving her in a critical condition. The gunman then rode off in the direction of McKay Boulevard - just a block away in the same area of St Martin's.

That was where he saw 47 year old Mark Lozano - who was walking in the opposite direction with a bowl of soup in his hands. Lozano, who was a mechanic, had just left this mechanic shop where he was working and was heading up the street.

People from around the neighborhood say that Lozano came face to face with the triggerman and might have uttered something which questioned the gunman about his actions. That was when he too was shot.

Lozano was shot once to the upper left arm, which exited through his neck. The track of blood on the street indicates that Lozano - even with his injury - tried to walk back to the mechanic shop.

He fell here - where a pool of blood settled.

He was rushed to the KHMH and about 3 this morning - almost 4 hours later- he succumbed to his injuries.

Where last night's shooting just a random cynical act by a man who was simply trigger happy? That's what we asked police public relations officer, Rafael Martinez.

Rafael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"At 11 o' clock last night police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they saw two persons suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to their body - namely one 47 years old mechanic of a Mami Road address in Ladyville suffering from apparent one gunshot wound to the upper left arm and well as one Cheray Zetina, a 31 year old domestic of a Balan Street address in Belize City also suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper part of the left arm."

"Reportedly about 10:50 last night Ms. Zetina along with a companion were standing in front of her home on Balan Street when a lone unidentified gunman came and open fire on them hitting Ms. Zetina causing the injuries."

"The gunman apparently sped on his bicycle down the road and upon reaching McKay Boulevard he met Mark Lozano and he fired a single gunshot at Mark Lozano causing the fatal injuries."

No one has been detained by police for last night's shooting - and the information they have gathered has been limited.

So far police say they haven't been able to come up with any motive for the shooting and it seems that it was just a random act which has left this entire community shaken.

Rafael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"Well apparently we need the assistance of the general public out there. If crime has to stop we need the assistance of the general public and so we continue to appeal to people out there who have seen something or who knows about something to get in touch with the police department or call 822-TIPS."

No one has been detained. Lozano is the father of one child. His murder became the fourth to be reported countrywide in a 48 hour time frame.

Cheray Zetina is now in a stable condition.

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