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That is a first, and the very worst kind - as it establishes a precedent that seems to bring Belize to the precipice of a dangerous tipping point. It happened last night, but was not discovered until this morning. 7news was there and Jules Vasquez has the whole story: Jules Vasquez Reporting

Last night at two minutes to 11:00, a gunman shot at Said Musa's house at the corner of E Street and Princess Margaret Drive. Residents reported hearing five or six shots in rapid succession. Musa says he heard it too

Rt. Hon. Said Musa - Home Shot Up
"We turned off the lights and went to bed at about 11 o'clock last night, and shortly thereafter, I heard this burst of gunfire, about 4 or 5 - possibly 6 shots - being fired in rapid succession. I got up, and went into the bathroom, which is adjacent to the bedroom, pulled the curtain, and looked outside towards Eve Street. I saw nothing unusual or suspicious. My wife, she got up as well, and she looked out the bedroom window toward Princess Margaret Drive, and she too saw nothing unusual. So, I suspected - I thought - it was gunfire coming from a distance away from this particular neighborhood. So, we went back to bed."

He went back to bed, but an alert area resident saw a fairly well dressed, dark skinned man running down this sidewalk on Princess Margaret Drive, jumping through this bush at the intersection with St. Charles' Street and then hopping into a dark coloured car that was waiting. He left a hat behind on the edge of the road, we are told.

They then drove off - with one resident reporting seeing the car whip down St Edward's street near the sea. Police were called, but took so long to come that the suspected shooters had time to circle back and pick up the hat that he had left behind - that was 35 minutes later.

From there no one really knew what happened until this morning at 6:00 when Said Musa left his home - as he usually does - to go to the gym.

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"This morning, I got up shortly before 6 o'clock to go to the gym, and when I went downstairs, I noticed that the main door had a hole in it. I looked down, and I saw a piece of metal, like a slug. And when I examined it more closely, I realized that the door had been shot through. I came outside, and I noticed then that my wife's vehicle, the Santa Fe, the rare passenger side window, had been shattered also by a bullet. So, I drove them to the Princess without disturbing my wife or anyone else, and I spoke to 2 police officers who were stationed there. I reported what I observed, and as a result of what they told me, I returned home, called 911, and informed the police. They responded promptly, and they carried out their investigation."

This morning at 7:00 police Crime Investigators and Scenes of Crime personell scoured the area, they found five nine millimeter shells.

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"The officers discovered, I am told, at least 5 or 6 expended shells, and outside fence, on the Eve Street side of the yard."

That would be this side of the house. At least two of the bullets found their mark in the Hyundai Santa Fe parked directly in front of the door - shattering the rear passenger window and penetrating the door. One more bullet went through the front door of the house.

Police have the shells and a few scraps of details - but have few leads on who might have done it. They do know that in December Musa had received threats:

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"It is a fact that threatening phone calls were made at my wife's workplace at BCVI, threatening to harm or kill her and myself. And there were 4 or 5 calls, at least 2 to BCVI, and subsequently some to my law firm, Musa and Balderamos. This was 2 weeks before Christmas. The police were alerted to this, and they have been investigating that, but so far, they haven't been able to come up any particular leads."

Marion Ali - Love News
"Did those threats come, sir, with any reason?"

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"This is it, no reasons, just threats, 'Tell the man give us the paper, otherwise I will kill Musa and his wife.'"

Jules Vasquez
"But it indicates lawyer-type activities?"

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"No, no, I wouldn't say that. I am told that the 'paper' on the street means money, cash. That, as far as the extortion side of the threats went, but the real threat was to kills. Like I said, it was so bizarre, the whole thing, but Christmas came and went, and that sort of died off. We didn't receive any further threats until this incident now that took place last night. But, it's very clear that whoever it was, must have been studying the movements in the house because it was not until after the lights went out, that I heard this burst of gunfire."

Marion Ali - Love News
"Does any member of your family members have any inkling who might be behind this?

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"No, absolutely not, in fact the very motive of this is a mystery to me, as to why anybody would want to harm me or any member of my family."

Today, Musa received visits first from friend Luke Espat, who seemed to be doing some investigating work of his own and then from leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca, and later on from PUP Deputy Leader Mike Espat.

Now Musa's residence will be under constant police guard.

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"Police security presence has been offered, and I have accepted."

Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition
"Mr. Barrow, the Prime Minister, called me this morning. He was very gracious in saying that he was very concerned what took place with respect to the former PM, and his Government has offered to provide security for the Former Prime Minister. He has also made that offer on behalf of the Government to me, as the Leader of Opposition. I have not yet taken up that offer because, as you said, Jules, we're not very comfortable with. I think all of us who are politicians in Belize, we move around freely. I move around the City and the Country very freely. I feel very comfortable. I was just on Dean and George Streets on Friday speaking with people in the community. So, it is a new era, if you like, a new development."

Jules Vasquez
"You've been in public life for 40 years. You've lived in that area for that same period of time. How are you thinking right now?"

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"Well, I am very distraught about the whole thing. It saddens me that throughout the time I was the Prime Minister of Belize, as you know, I never cared too much about my own personal security. I had no body guards around me. I moved freely around this country. And even after I demitted office, I continued to enjoy this lifestyle of driving my own vehicle to work, and living my life in a peaceful manner, not feeling threatened by any Belizean. It really saddens me that we've come to this path today, where it has reached home to me now. I am being personally threatened, my wife, my family."

Hon. Francis Fonseca
"There is an increasing loss of that sense of personal security, and I think we're all feeling it. And certainly, when it comes home to us, as it has this morning with our very own former leader, we obviously have a very deeper understanding of what people go through on a daily basis, as the former PM said."

And ever the politician Musa, even in this crucible - did not miss a chance to score a few easy points against the government

Rt. Hon. Said Musa
"Despite the fact that it has now come home to me, and has threatened my family and me, I am still convinced that we have to have a balanced approached to fighting crime, through law enforcement - and I am happy to see that this side of it is now being emphasized by the new leadership of the security forces - but also to deal with the real problems in education, healthcare, housing conditions of our people, in jobs most of all, and in the recreation that our young people need - sports and other such things. These things have to be emphasized far more."

But at this house, what will be emphasized now is a sustained security presence - and it's left to be seen if other politicians will have to adapt to changing times.

Police have no suspects at this time - while Musa's residence remains under guard. Musa told us he has no plans to leave the country or do any such thing.