29 year old Belize City resident James Elijio is in critical condition after he was shot last night. Monica Bodden visited his home in the Lake Independence area today and found that it isn't the first time that violence has been visited on his yard, but this time the victim was truly blameless. Here's the story:..
Monica Bodden reporting
It was inside his yard that 29 year old James Elijio was shot once behind the neck.
It happened at his Flamboyant Street address just before 10 last night. The mentally challenged man woke up and went outside to urinate - That was when 2 men came walking from the direction of Causarina Street and fired 2 shots at him.
Tanya Elijio, sister of James Elijio
"What happen is that I was at home in my bed when my father brought to the news to me that my brother got shot. He said that my grandmother had just given him food to eat and after eating, he (James) exited through the back door whereby he went to urine and on his way coming back inside the house from backwards a gun man passed and fired two shots at him which one caught him at the back of his neck."
The gunmen then ran off towards Black Orchid Street but with quick police response, one man has been detained while another is being sought for investigations.
Meanwhile 29 year old Elijio underwent hours of surgery while fighting for his life. He is listed in a critical condition at the KHMH.
Tanya Elijio, sister of James Elijio
"He is still in the operating theatre right now. We are waiting for a feedback from the doctors to find out more or less if he is critical."
Monica Bodden
"At this time he is critical?"
Tanya Elijio, sister of James Elijio
"At this time yes. We are hoping for the best because I always pray for my brothers."
But this Flamboyant Street address has been long targeted by gunmen. It is not the first time that the family housing unit has come under gunfire. In fact, in February of 2013, 25 year old Trevor Hinds was shot to his cheek while waiting for his girlfriend at the same address. Police retrieved 7 expended shells from off that scene.
Tanya Elijio, sister of James Elijio
"This is not the first nor the second time that gunman come here at my grandmother's house. My grandmother can't even walk, she is cripple. This has to stop because this is nonsense. You can't be safe in your own house. You can't come and sit in your own yard; you have to be prepared for a gunman to come to take your life. It has to stop because my brother is not too correct and the he doesn't go out there to plot to shoot anyone, so why do they come here to shoot at this house because no one from here is interfering with anybody."
"He is 29 years old, he is in his own world, he doesn't mess any anybody. Nobody wants to live their life in fear; when you lie down at night, gunman lurking around your house, for what? You give the devil what is due, you give everybody their fair share, but no one from here goes to harass them gunman, whosoever it is knows who they are."
Monica Bodden
"Why do you think your home is being targeted? You mentioned to me that every time you are going through this same thing over and over where gunman comes and shoot up the house. Why you think that is happening?"
Tanya Elijio, sister of James Elijio
"Miss, honestly I can't give an accurate answer towards that to say why. It's like what I've said before; you give everyone their fair share because I know that I have my brothers here and one of them got shot last night for no reason at all. Like the devil robs those guys soul, they are worshiping the devil and it has to stop."
Police have detained one man and are seeking another.
Email
Print