John Fernandez's murder was the weekend's second homicide. The first happened in an area behind the Pit Pan Bar in San Ignacio at around 6:30 p.m on Friday. 18 year-old Shaheem Slusher had just left his work site. He went for a swim, and he was socializing with several men. He got into an argument with another man who pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the neck and left shoulder. He tried to escape, but he fell and bled out beside the river.
Last night, 7News travelled to San Ignacio, we got a chance to speak with his uncle, who is a police officer stationed in Belmopan. He told us about how they are dealing with his sudden loss.
Denroy Barrow - Uncle of Deceased
"It was around 7:00 Friday evening - I was at home when I was informed by a collegue that one of my nephews was injured by the river side. I made checks and I met the police officers at the scene doing their work. I don't have the full details but I was made to understand that my nephew was on his way from work because he works in Santa Elena. I believe that sometime while he was in the San Ignacio area he stopped by the river to wash off the cement from his work. As I understand it there were some other individuals in the area where he and someone got into a misunderstanding and a struggle insued whereby he received two stab wounds - one to the right side of the neck and the left side of his shoulder. He was a young individual who was trying to uplift himself; he left Gales point and came here about two years now and back and forth to Gales Point. He recently got this construction job at Santa Elena and he was doing well. We look forward for him to continue what he was doing, however, he was short lived."
Daniel Ortiz
"So I imagine your family is devastated. How is his mother doing? How are you, his uncle, doing?"
Denroy Barrow
"Somebody has to be strong. The mother is not doing well, she breaks down every now and then. We are here to try and console her and my other brother. She is visiting here with me because she lives in Gales Point but she came to visit and this unfortunate incident happen."
31 year-old Brian Burke, a resident of Esperanza Village, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with Slusher's death. He is expected to be arraigned in San Ignacio Magistrate's Court at the earliest convenience.
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