Email

Print

A Lebanese - American car dealer was killed as he ate lunch in a well-known Lebanese restaurant in the Farmer's Market compound. But, it wasn't a robbery - by all accounts it was an execution. We found out more at the scene today:..

Jules Vasquez reporting
The restaurant in the Farmer's Market known as a King Kabob is a popular hangout for Lebanese men, but during lunch today it was a crime scene. A Lebanese American, 40 year old Aziz Dib was killed inside as he was having eating.

Another Lebanese man who frequents the restaurant had just stepped out when the killer stepped in.

Asking to appear off camera, he told us what happened:

Voice of: Patron at the restaurant
"A slim, dark skin person who wore a mask went in, emptied the gun and roll out."

Jules Vasquez
"So, he just walk in, he didn't demand money?"

Voice of: Patron at the restaurant
"No, this is what got everyone wondering what really went wrong; it could be a wrong person, it could be someone else..."

But the killer seemed to have no doubt - he singled out Aziz Dib from other persons in the restaurant and shot him multiple times. Police recovered seven expended 9 millimeter shells from the scene and photos taken by a passerby show that he was shot to the head, and fell to the floor breaking the chair he was sitting on leaving a pool of blood.

Today members of the Lebanese community gathered at the crime scene - as the body was removed by police.

Aziz Dib - who brings vehicles down from North Carolina to sell in Belize - was embraced as a member of their community because his brother lives here:

Voice of: Patron at the restaurant
"This person comes and go; he doesn't have enemies, he doesn't have people that travelled with. He brings vehicles to sell and go back. His brother lives here, he has a bodywork shop."

The killing his perplexed Lebanese patrons who frequent the restaurant - because Dib only comes to Belize occasionally - and isn't at the restaurant every day:

Voice of: Patron at the restaurant
"It wasn't like he had to be here today, it just happen like that so fast."

So if Dib is not a regular, did the shooter get the wrong man? That is what police have to figure out as they look for a suspect who was most likely a hired hitman paid to carry out another broad daylight at a busy city intersection.

Police have a few leads they are following - but have made no arrests. Dib had children in North Carolina. His brother in Belize declined comment.