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Monica Bodden Reporting

23 year old Abel Arana was murdered last night inside this yard in Hattieville on Camal Street - meanwhile Ralph Sherlock Martinez better known as Mini-man, who resides at the residence, is tonight hospitalized.

The murder/shooting happened just after 8 o'clock last night. According to police, Arana and Martinez were socializing at the residence when an argument ensued between the men - Both men shots at each other.

But while that theory is under investigation, a friend of Martinez denies that version.

According to him, Martinez and Arana knew each other from prison but where never close associates to the point where they would be socializing together. He told us Abel Arana entered his friend's yard with the intention to kill him, but out of self-defense Martinez ended up using Arana's gun on him.

Friend of Sherlock Martinez a.k.a. Miniman
"In this situation, sometimes there are people whom you met in prison, you don't really look at them as someone who would try to kill you in your yard. My boy didn't have that intention about that person when he came in the yard last night."

Monica Bodden
"Abel and "miniman" met in prison. They weren't friends or anything but they knew each other from prison?"

Friend of Sherlock Martinez a.k.a. Miniman
"Yes, it's not like they had any relationship as friends, but it's just hi and bye, you cool and I cool. That was it in that understanding that I can tell you. He came into miniman yard with the intention to kill my boy. But like while he draw his gun out my boy end up snatch his hand, that's why he ended up getting shot two times. When he got shot two times now he still got the strength to punch the guy out, so he end up with the gun and shoot the guy in self-defense because he hadn't got that gun my boy would be a dead person right now.. People might say that they are friends but they were not."

Monica Bodden
"They weren't socializing or anything, he just came to miniman's yard and stepped inside".

Friend of Sherlock Martinez a.k.a. Miniman
"Yes with the intention to kill him, but my boy wasn't aware of that and that's why he could never have given him an arm reached because if he had done that he wouldn't have had time to grab the gun from him. I am not saying this because miniman is my friend, miniman lives to tell the tales because it could have been him but thank God. God didn't give him over to the enemy for them to rejoice over him. Thank God that he will make it to be with his families and loved ones."

Monica Bodden
"He was shot to what part of his body?"

Friend of Sherlock Martinez a.k.a. Miniman
"According to my understanding he got shot in his leg and in his stomach."

According to police Abel Arana was shot twice to the abdomen and once to the buttocks while Sherlock Miniman Martinez was shot to the abdomen. Two expended 9mm shells and 2 live 9mm rounds were recovered from the scene.

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"Last night sometime after 9pm we received a call with regards to somebody being injured and taken to the medic center in Hattieville. Subsequently we leant that another person was brought to the hospital in Belize City and is being attended to as we speak. The one at the medic center succumb to his injuries and we believe it is a gunshot wound."

Reporter
"Any idea what happened?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"Our investigation at this time is still ongoing and we are looking into the possibility of it being within the persons that were injured."

Reporter
"I understand that a group of persons were socializing when this shooting happened?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"We understand it is persons socializing that had an altercation but we are still looking into exactly what transpired."

Monica Bodden
"Anyone detained?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"We have nobody detained at this time. We have statements that we've recorded."

Reporter
"I understand that this maybe gang related. Are the police getting any information in that regard?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"With regards to gangs Patrick, gangs are illegal in Belize, I don't know that it will be gang related and I would not be able to comment on that."

Reporter
"I understand that a young lady was also questioned or you have spoken to that young lady?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"We've spoken to several persons. Like I said before we record statements and that is a matter on file and investigation purpose."

Reporter
"Any of the persons involved are known to the police?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"One of the persons is known but a known person from the city."

Monica Bodden
"Was Abel Arana being investigated for any murders?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"I wouldn't be able to say."

Reporter
"How badly injured is the other person?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"That is unknown to me. It would be for the Hospital to make mention of it."

Reporter
"Any weapons recovered?"

ASP Chris Noble, O/C Ladyville, Regional Executive Officer
"None that I know of."

But why would Abel Arana want to kill Sherlock Martinez? That question is still left unanswered. According to Arana's father, he was supposed to pick up his son on Saturday to take him along on a job out at Turneffe Island. So when he got the call last night of his son's death, it caught him off-guard.

Daryl Baptist - Father of Abel Arana
"I was out in the cayes, I came because of this incident. The reason why I came was to take my son This Saturday to work in the cayes with me."

Both men are no stranger to police since they have been in and out of the courts and prison. But according to both their families, they were making some positive changes in their life. Martinez's friend says he made a complete turnaround with his life and moved away from the city.

Monica Bodden
"He lived in Hattieville?"

Friend of Ralph Sherlock Martinez a.k.a. Miniman
"It's a friend that my boy fall in love with and wanted to live his life with this person. We does always tell him that we don't like the idea because he is far away from us anything could happen. But he never really saw it like that. He just wanted a new beginning to have a family. But death tried to find him where he is. But thank God he is still alive. I can't blame him and say that it is because of a woman, he chooses to be where he is."

Monica Bodden
"It was strongly believe that it was self-defense on his part."

Friend of Ralph Sherlock Martinez a.k.a. Miniman
"Yes because if he had a gun it wouldn't be like that. That is obvious to know that was self-defense."

Daryl Baptist - Father of Abel Arana
"My son never wears a greasy shirt. My son never wears a greasy pant. When I went to deal with son in the hospital, my son shirt had a lot of grease. These people deal with a lot of old iron and stuff. They beat my son; six of them jump my son and my nephew was in it. When I saw my son he was greasy and dirty and he had on a brand new white shirt. They can't beat him one on one and so all of them had to jump and one of them shot him right here and when he ran they shot him in his back."

Monica Bodden
"How many times your son was shot?"

Daryl Baptist - Father of Abel Arana
"I don't know. I don't want to know because it hurts."

Martinez's girlfriend and her brother are detained. Police believe they may know where the firearm or firearms used in the shootings are.