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Sniper Kills Woman In Front Of Husband, Children
posted (May 18, 2015)
This weekend was very violent: between Friday and Sunday evening, a mere 48 hours, four persons were killed.

The most disturbing event in this panorama of violence occurred just outside Belmopan yesterday evening when a woman was shot and killed in front of her common law husband and kids. Rosalie Galvez along with her family were returning from a trip when she was shot in the head as they were entering Belmopan around 6 in the evening. It's a terrifying and almost unthinkable assault - but police do not believe it was random - in fact they say her husband, the notorious Russell Hyde was the target. Courtney Weatherburne spoke to Hyde today in Belmopan:

Courtney Weatherburne Reporting
44 year old Rosalie Galvez and her family were returning from their Sunday trip in this truck yesterday evening.

Her common-law husband was driving while she was in the passenger seat. 6 people including their 2 kids were riding in the pan of the truck.?

The family was returning from a horse race in More Tomorrow Village when someone fired shots at the truck, hitting Galvez.

Russell Hyde, Common Law Husband
"I went all the way until I reach the Guanacaste Park by the roundabout. One gunman came out and fired a shot and hit my wife and I continue to drive and took her straight to the hospital. She arrived alive and after an hour or two she died."

Charles Galvez, Brother
"I was there personally and I saw her gasping for her last breath and I saw what the doctors and nurses at the Western Regional Hospital did to try to save her. In my opinion at the moment when I went in there I knew she wasn't going to make it because the gunshot blast hit her somewhere in the upper neck area behind the ear."

Courtney Weatherburne
"Any other injuries or it's just only the head?"

Charles Galvez, Brother
"From what I saw, it was only the head."

Apparently, the gunman emerged from these bushes and fired at them as they slowed down near the junction.

Although this comes as a shock to the family, they say that her past lifestyle and her surroundings may have led to her death.

Charles Galvez, Brother
"The family is grieving of course and we know that based on what we learnt, the bullets weren't meant for her, but the environment she's been living in was her choice and with all the incidents happening in Roaring Creek, of course streets sources is saying that it was not meant for her. Whosoever did it, we don't know. We are not a family of revenge. We are not a family who is entangled in any gang warfare. However, my sister choose to live the life she lived in and the environment she lived in."

Whether it was her environment, lifestyle, company or a random shooting, Galvez's mother has to cope with yet another loss of a child.

Haledora Cruz, Mother
"This is my 4th child dead. Four of them gone; I had one who had cancer and then I had one who is missing. I haven't seen him up to today. Then my daughter who got shot yesterday and then my son who was killed in Caye Caulker. So, its 4 of them gone and it's very hard for me. It's so hard that I don't know if I could get over this one, because I loved my daughter dearly. I loved her with all my heart and to have her killed that violent kind of way, it really hurt me as a mother."

And for the rest of the family, forgiveness is their only solace.

Russell Hyde, Common Law Husband
"All I got to say is that the person that did it, don't be afraid. Go to God in praise and ask for forgiveness and the good Lord will forgive him and I will forgive him."

Galvez and her family had just moved to Camalote about 6 months ago. She leaves behind 3 kids.

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