7 News Belize

Chinese Grocer Gratuitously Murdered
posted (August 10, 2012)
As we reported last night, a Chinese grocer was killed in Ladyville. Sadly, it is the type of truly senseless crime that has become all too familiar - gunmen robbing and then shooting a grocer.

And that's just what happened yesterday. Monica Bodden has reviewed security camera footage which showed that the armed robbers had no reason to kill the storeowner called Kenny.

Here's her report:..

Monica Bodden reporting
The entire community in the Mitchell Estate Area of Ladyville, was left in shock yesterday evening - when their area Chinese grocer was gunned down in broad daylight.

It happened here at E-buy supermarket - on Crab Catcher Street, that 32 year old Peixan Tan known as Kenny was shot once to the left side of his head.

Tan was rushed to the KHMH in an ambulance but succumbed to his injuries while being transported. On the scene police recovered a 9mm expended shell and were looking for two suspects in connection to the robbery that turned out to be a homicide.

Security footage shows that the two armed robbers entered the store posing as customers.

They milled around for a while- with one of them, the gunman, coolly smoking a cigarette - he man who would later be the gunman goes over to the cooler area still milling round the front of the store talking to his friend and as the store owner goes to the back for something, that's when the gunman pulls out his gun, points it at the store owner and started barking orders.

The other man then goes behind the counter and helped himself to all the cash he can find.

The gunman then brings the store owner back near the counter and holds a gun to his head and holds him down on the ground - forcing him to go behind the counter while the other man fills up his pockets with cash.

They continued like that uninterrupted for another 30 seconds or so. In the end, they got everything they wanted as the storeowner fully complied with their request - but that didn't stop the gunman from shooting the cowering grocer in the back of the head before leaving the store.

Police say they know who the gunman is and have also identified the other suspect.

Edmund Quan - Chairman, Belize Chinese Association
"Around like 5:15 we got a call that a Chinese businessman in Ladyville got injured and they rush him to the hospital. Upon reaching the hospital apparently he had already succumb to his injuries. Then we went to the crime scene. At the crime scene we were just trying to help out the family, sorting out different things and translating and stuff like that."

Monica Bodden
"You understand where - which part of his body he was shot?"

Edmund Quan - Chairman, Belize Chinese Association
"To my understanding it was in his head. It was through and through the head. It was a robbery."

Monica Bodden
"Anything was stolen? You know the items?"

Edmund Quan
"Cash was stolen but we don't know the exact amount. He was behind the counter where the assailants attack him. We are very angered about it. there is not much that we can do but we strongly hope that the government can really bring back corporal punishment, everybody is scared."

Monica Bodden
"How old was Kenny?"

Edmund Quan
"He was 31 years old. The sad thing about it is that his wife just had a baby about 3 weeks ago. If there is anyone out there, any eyewitnesses, please get the courage to come out to at least convict the assailants because we need to stop this. We want to live in peace."

One person has been detained - and he is very well known to police. That detainee from Belize City has been accused of three murders previously - and now he is considered a key suspect in this case.

Another man is being sought - he is from the Ladyville area and his name is also known to police.

Police are also investigating the possibility that a third person who was in the story may have been involved.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize