7 News Belize

Man Murdered In Front Of Fried Chicken Shack
posted (April 20, 2015)
And while those two deaths will be filed under crimes of passion - senseless shootings dominated the weekend in Belize City. There were 3 shootings on Friday night which left 4 persons injured, and of the four, 35 year-old Vern Magdaleno was the only victim who was fatally injured.

It happened on the corner of Faber's Road and Central American Boulevard, where Magdaleno went to buy fried chicken. That's when the gunman shot him execution style while he was sitting in the vehicle. Daniel Ortiz has been following that story, and here's his report:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Just after 8 o'clock on Friday night, 35 year-old Vern Magdaleno, aka "Bird", lay slumped in the middle of the front seats of his Mazda car. He had been shot in the left side of the head by a gunman at close range.

His family and friends could only observe the scene, which often became too overwhelming, their tears of grief freely flowing on the crowded Central American Boulevard.

It is a scene which his brother, Albert Magdaleno, told us today that he keeps reliving, especially the moments of Friday night when he had to help police put his brother's body inside the morgue.

Alberto Magdaleno - Brother of Deceased
"I am still in a state of shock and the besides that, I have all these images played in my head because I had to assist the police in putting him in the morgue. When I saw the condition of how he look and then also when I got on the scene the night, to see my niece and nephew horrified that their father had just been killed and then his oldest daughter who should be graduating from ACC come June - she was very emotional throwing herself on the ground and crying and hollering dad. So all of these memories now are playing in my head and making it difficult for me to just move on and to sleep."

So, how did it happen?

Supt. Hilberto Romero - OC, CIB Eastern Division
"The information we have is that he went there with his common-law-wife to purchase fried chicken and was seated in his car when a lone gunman rode up, approached him in the car and fired one single shot at him which cause the fatal injury. Several persons were at that establishment purchasing chicken at the time and we have conducted several interviews and recorded several statements. So far we have not been able to lay any charges on anyone regarding this shooting."

Alberto Magdaleno - Brother of Deceased
"What I am told is that my sister said that she dropped him off at her house and then she went back to the family home where he got some money and then he and his common-law-wife were in the vehicle. As a matter of fact she was in the vehicle up until the time of the shooting. They went to the "Chiney" Tito to buy fried chicken and he got out of the vehicle, went to purchase the chicken and sitting in the vehicle about to move off, that's when the killer creep up to the edge of the car, pushed the gun through the window and shot him direct in the ear."

Bird Magdaleno was known to be a family man. His brother know him to work hard to provide for his 3 children. His violent end is uncharacteristic, and puzzling to them.

Alberto Magdaleno - Brother of Deceased
"I am not sure what to say because I reside in Ladyville and he lives here in Belize City and I don't know if it's a matter of association with friends or what, but you can't pick a person's friends and especially if you grew up in a certain neighborhood, sometimes automatically you are branded because of the environment you grew up in - that's where you live. So, I really came mention about that."

Supt. Hilberto Romero - OC, CIB Eastern Division
"Again, we have not established clear motives regarding this murder. He had only been charged before for burglary. That is all he has been charged for."

Daniel Ortiz
"Do you believe after this entire situation has unfolded and police do what they are required to do, that you will get some sort of closure from the course that this killer will be brought to justice?"

Alberto Magdaleno - Brother of Deceased
"I do hope so, because one interesting thing was that the GSU van that has a camera on the outside that observed the surroundings was parked a little distance up the street. So, I believe if that was there and it was functioning, then they should have captured something to the event that had transpired that night."

Magdaleno is the father of 3 children, a 16 year-old daughter who is to graduate from high school in June, a 10 year-old son, another 6 year-old daughter.

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