7 News Belize

City Murder Devastates Family
posted (December 3, 2014)

There was a murder in Belize City this morning. It happened two blocks across from our Albert Street studio on Wagner's Lane, known as Jump Street. Robert Tracey who'd had run-in's with the law before was out of his neighborhood – he's from behind Gungulung but found himself in foreign turf this morning. Is that why he was shot and killed? That's what Monica Bodden tried to find out from his family today:…

Rafael Martinez – Police Press Officer

"Regarding the shooting incident that occurred on Wagner's lane at about 10 o'clock this morning. We have confirmed the identity of the person who was shot he is 27 year old Robert Austin Tracy, Emmanual street address in the Gungulung area as it is locally known."

It was in front of this two story concrete building on Wagner's Lane – where 27 year old Robert Tracy was gunned down just before 10 this morning.

He was allegedly sitting on a stool – when his attacker pulled up from behind him and fired a single shot-

That shot caught Tracy to the head- and killed him almost instantly.

His family received the news just minutes after he was killed.

Helen Samuels- Mother of Decease

"We were doing our own thing. We went to the credit union to get a loan. They told us we're not getting a loan due to our job situation. We took a dollar van by port and we meet the media and was explaining what was happening when she got a phone call."

Monica Bodden

"Did you guys have a chance to go at the scene?"

Helen Samuels

"They called me at 10 o clock, when she told me my son died."

Monica Bodden

"So by the time you got to the hospital he was already dead?"

Helen Samuels

"He was already in the morgue already."

Samuels strongly believe that her son's death was a set up by friends- Because he was killed in an area he normally keeps away from.

Helen Samuels

"He's home all day, no go no where. But they said someone went to hail him here this morning and took him out so, but I don't know who and I feel like they took my son to his death because he doesn't travel those areas."

Monica Bodden

"You believe that he was set up?"

Helen Samuels

"Yes because they came for him way home."

Monica Bodden

"He was on the other side of town in an area that he's not usually in."

Helen Samuels

"He doesn't go that side there. The furthest he would go is right around this area and over the bridge go hail one of his friends and come back. 6 o clock he'll leave and come right back. He doesn't go no where, he stays right here in this house, so I don't know how he would make his friends come hail him out like that. Somebody come for my son and carry him to his death."

Tracey was no stranger to the law –in fact he was out on bail for the attempted murder of Lorin Lennon that occurred on March 7th 2012.

Rafael Martinez – Police Press Officer

"Tracy is no stranger to the authorities. He has quite a lengthy rap sheet. The last we had was 13 and these include burglary, grievous harm, wounding, theft, robbery and the lists goes on. He was actually charged and convicted twice for drug possession."

Previous to Tracey's murder, he had 3 attempts on his life – On the 4th of September 2011 he was shot to the thigh, buttocks and finger. On the 19th of December 2012 he was shot to his wrist and in February of 2014 he was shot to the center of his back.

Lisa Tracy – Sister of Decease

"I know they attempt to kill him so many time. We know they want kill him long time, so we know his life was on that road already. So my mom already know what was happening and going on. Today they fulfilled right?"

Monica Bodden

"Having runnings with the law, did your son ever tried to change his life?"

Helen Samuels

"Every time he been in jail and he come out and try to behave himself. I just took him out of jail September. I took him out, pay the money to take him come out of jail."

For a moment this grieving mother had to be consoled –

Helen Samuels

"I pay the money to make him come out of jail and so many times he come out of jail the police always harassed him. The last time they came way in my house and beat him up for nothing, for a little piece of weed. From the time he come out of jail, about 5 times my son went to the station for simple things. The last time one of them threatened his life."

TRACEY had a lengthy rap sheet and had been charged by police at least 13 times.

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