Over the long 3-day weekend, there were three murders 2 stabbing deaths in Cayo and Ladyville on Friday Night and Sunday Morning respectively, and fatal shooting on Saturday night. Tonight, we report first on the shooting of 33 year-old Salvadoran Jose Luis Umana.
It happened on Saturday night just before 9. Umana was at the corner of New Road and Hydes Lane when his attacker ambushed him and shot him in the center of the forehead.
Police responded shortly after, and Umana was rushed to the KHMH. Doctors worked on him for just under an hour, but the injury to his brain was too severe, and he died while undergoing treatment.
7News has been following the story, and here's what his family had to say:
Julian Jimenez - Stepfather
"Saturday he was here. He had lunch with us and he want to buy tortillas. He sit down, eat and then he went. He like to hang out here. I didn't even see when he leave from here, I was busy eating and I didn't see where he went. Afterwards I went out to buy and I saw him out here. He says that he will have supper but he didn't come at all. Around 9pm I heard some gun shots and my wife jump and she shouted "Jose." A little after while she went to see and by the time she reach half way they told her that her son got hit because he is well-known around here. When she went there they had just put him in an ambulance and she went behind him in another car. When she reach the hospital, he was still alive. He died about 10pm. He is a cool young man, very friendly. He does a little hustling because he is unemployed. He stays with us."
And while that is the perspective from his family, today, the Police Press Office briefed the media about the investigations so far.
Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer
"Starting off first of course with the shooting incident that occurred on Saturday in Belize City where police responded to a shooting incident at the corner of Hydes Lane and New Road. When they arrived there they saw a thirty three year old Salvadoran national, Jose Luis Umana of a Cards Alley address suffering from a gunshot wound to the forehead. He was quickly transported to the K.H.M.H. but unfortunately he succumbed to his injuries around 9:55 later on that evening. So far police are investigating this shooting incident and no one has been detained as yet."
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Have you all been able to come any closer to a motive for that incident?"
Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer
"I am sure that presently the police are looking at all angles and ascertain what is the reason for this incident, but we have not gotten anything as yet; nothing tangible to report on."
Reporter
"Can you say if it is gang related; MS-13 related to be specific?"
Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer
"No ma'am, not at this time."
Email
Print