7 News Belize

Another Broad Daylight Murder; This Time A 19 Year Old Killed
posted (April 20, 2012)
A 19 year old male was murdered in Belize City this afternoon. It is another one of those broad daylight shootings - but this one is even more brazen because the victim was shot on one of the busiest, most trafficked streets in the city - and because he appeared to have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It happened on Orange Street and the victim managed to run two blocks across to Regent Street West - which is where he died. That is where our team picks up the story:..

Jules Vasquez reporting
There was no consoling this mother as she cried bitterly, grieving for her young son, Orlando Reyes, known as BAM. He lay dead at the entrance to Mike's Club near the Regent Street West Bridge.

But he was shot over a block away, here on Orange Street at 3:00 pm. Reyes was riding along with a friend Angel Dorado - who says they were just caught in the crossfire of someone else's war:

Voice of Angel Dorado, Riding Along With deceased
"We were coming up stop Orange Street because we went to buy a shirt. Arriving at RAM shop we saw a man spin around on his bike and start to shoot at some young men. When he saw BAM and I he started to shoot at us. I ran inside the store; I thought BAM had gotten away, but he got caught."

Jules Vasquez
"Why did he shoot at you all?"

Voice of Angel Dorado, Riding Along With deceased
"We were in front of him across the street to buy a shirt. He saw us in front of him and started to shoot. I asked the store keeper to check me to see if I had gotten any shot too."

Jules Vasquez
"How many shots did he fire?"

Voice of Angel Dorado, Riding Along With deceased
"About 5 shots he fired in front of us and then like 6 at the other guys."

Two men - believed to be associated with Taylor's Alley were shot at this barber shop.

Gunshots rang out on the narrow, very congested street at the height of the Friday rush.

Dorado got away, and Reyes managed to run a fair distance, until he collapsed here at the entrance to the club.

His stepfather, Nigel Castillo was the first to check on the body to confirm the identity.

Reyes died in the downtown area - a block from the swing bridge in the middle of the Friday Rush - also right across from Holy Redeemer Primary School.

And as they took the body away to the morgue - his mother remained; her family embraced her - but there is no consolation for her loss.

The two men who were in, or near the barber shop are 33 year old Kevin Peters - who was shot in both legs and Kent Estevan Henderson - both are in stable condition.

The deceased, 19 year old Orlando Reyes was shot to the right hand and the middle of his chest. No suspect has been identified at this time, but police are interviewing witnesses.

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