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Police Say Shooter Was Aiming For Brandon Taylor
posted (May 22, 2012)
And while his schoolmates will march - police hope to march the child's killer - and the man who instigated him - to court tomorrow. As we mentioned at the top, the background to this story is very relevant.

When Daniel's older cousin and neighbor, 28 year old Kaylon Matura was killed on Thursday, police received reports that Brandon Taylor was a suspect in that shooting - but no one would give a statement implicating him. So he was released on Saturday.

On Monday morning at around 8:30, friend of the Matura's, Andrew Willoughby say that he was standing in front of the Matura home on Central American Boulevard when Taylor rode past on the other side of the street, pulled out a chrome handgun, pointed it and said, "I will kill all of you."

Willoughby says he retreated into the house - but then came out to fire at Taylor as he was riding off - and that is just when 11 year old Daniel Matura was returning from the shop.

He was caught in the crossfire, and shot fatally to the chest, back and hand. He was killed - it appears - by what might be called friendly - it came from his own family's yard. But - a spolcie explained today, this child casualty is part of an adult's war.

Here's what was said at a press conference today:

ACP Elodio Aragon - Officer Commanding Eastern Division
"Initial investigations revealed that on Monday, May 21, 2010, at 8:30 a.m., one Brandon Taylor and Roy Bennett were riding on separate bicycles on Central American Boulevard travelling from the direction of Faber's, heading toward the direction of Neal Penn Road. While both persons were passing in front of the Matura's Residence, one Andrew Willoughby, who was inside the Matura yard came out with a firearm and fired shots at both Brandon Taylor and Roy Bennett, who rode away without any injuries. During this shooting incident, Daniel Matura Jr., who was walking in an opposite direction from which Brandon Taylor and Roy Bennett were travelling, received above mentioned injuries, who then ran away and collapsed almost at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Boots Crescent. Daniel Matura Jr. was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police patrols in the area resulted in the quick apprehension of Andrew Willoughby, the person believed responsible for the shooting. Andrew Willoughby has since given a caution statement in regards to the incident, and police continue to actively investigate this case. It's clear why Andrew Willoughby did the shooting against Brandon Taylor."

Reporter
"Right, is this gang-related?"

ACP Elodio Aragon
"Yes, this is gang-related - we strongly believe that it is gang-related. We had an incident with Kaylon Matura a few days ago, and we have since connected this incident which resulted in the tragic death of Daniel Matura Jr., with that of the last shooting."

ACP Alden Dawson - Officer Commanding CIB
"Well so far, as it relates to the entire incident, last week Kaylon Matura was killed, and as a result of that murder, a the brother-in-law, who is Andrew Willoughby - his common-law is the sister of Kaylon Matura, and his belief is that the person responsible for the murder is this same Brandon Taylor. And Brandon Taylor passed the yard of Kaylon Matura, and made some statements. Andrew Willoughby decided that he would have fired at him. He fired several shots; none caught Brandon Taylor, but instead, the shots caught the young Daniel Matura, who is the cousin-in-law of Andrew Willoughby, causing the fatal injury. So it's a matter of in-laws shooting in-laws by accident."

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"The police presence was more than usual on the boulevard, number 1. The quick police response in the area led to the apprehension of Andrew Willoughby on Arlington Drive. Arlington Drive is only a few feet away from the scene of the crime. Mr. Willoughby was detained while he was trying to reach his home. So the police presence, it's there, but like I said, opportunity. The window of opportunity is what causes crimes. This person committed the murder on Boulevard, and was apprehended only a few feet away. So, I must say that while we are not everywhere all the time, the police presence led to the apprehension of the accused gunman in this crime."

Aaron Humes - Amandala Press
"In Daniel Matura's case, but perhaps Kaylon Matura's death could have been prevented."

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood
"Aaron, what I am saying is that the patrols were put in place after Kaylon Matura's murder, and we have seen the end-result. And we will continue our police presence as much as possible. Our patrols will improve; we will continue to improve. At the same time, we're asking the assistance of the general public. We do not know when people are lay-waiting each other, but if you see strange people in your neighborhood, people that you know are out of place, and you 911, more than likely, the police response will be there."

Willoughby has confessed to shooting Matura in a caution statement - explaining that he was aiming at Brandon Taylor. He has also named Taylor as the one issuing threats. So 26 year old Brandon Taylor has turned himself into police and is pending charges of aggravated assault and is also being investigated for the murder of Kaylon.

As we noted, Daniel Matura is the fifth child to be killed by gun violence in Belize city in twenty months. He joins Eyannie Nunez, Marquis Mahler, Joshua Abraham, and Aaron Pope. Disturbingly, four of those five were killed on holidays or Holiday weekends.

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