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Now, Tush Smith is a well-known street figure with a history going back decades. As a young man, was known to associate himself with then Ghost Town Crips, and he was convicted of murder in the 90's, and sentenced to death in 1999 for the murder of Ainsworth "Pie" Wagner. But the Privy Council quashed that and since being released from prison a few years ago, Tush, had done some community work. So why would anyone want him dead? Emanuel Pech went looking for answers.

Voice of: Janelle Thompson - Common law wife
"He was always a loving person to me."

Emanuel Pech
"What kind of person was he?"

Janelle Thompson - Common law wife
"He is a family man."

Sometime After 5 in the evening on Sunday Cleon Smith, better known as Tush, left his home and arrived here at a usual hang out spot of his.

Neighbors said they had seen him here with 2 other individuals- a male and a female- who later left.

Linval Mejia, has a small shop next door and was one of the last persons to speak with Tush before his fatal shooting.

Linval Mejia - Witness
"A little bit before he came to buy some ice from me. I was in my bed and I told him that I was feeling and I couldn't make it up. I came out and he told me it was okay and he went over that side. I felt a vibe as someone was around. But it's very dark back here. The person look at me from through the hole. He was looking at me to see what my next move is, because I came outside to do business and I pull away his attraction from the guy. So what I did, I went back in my bed and relax."

And that's when the shots rang out. At least six shots were fired, four of which found their target. Last night police carted out the body.

Sr. Sup. Edward Broaster- O. C. Eastern Rural
"When police responded to the location they found Mr. Smith lying with appeared to be 4 gunshot wounds to the back and the scene was processed and found there were 6 expended shells of what appeared to be 9mm ammunitions. Mr. Smith was taken to the KHMH where he was pronounced dead on arrival."

At least two individuals, police say, gained access to Mejia's yard through the back of this empty lot, leaving behind only these apparent muddy footprints.

Insp. Rochelle Chan- Lead investigator
"Initial investigation reveals that there were two suspects for this heinous murder. We cannot ascertain or determine if they came from Belize City, but we know that by professional opinion that it has to have been somebody that knows the area very well. The residence of the lot where Tush was shot is a enclosed yard and has a opening at the rear leading to a bushy abandoned lot and it would be unlikely for someone that does not actually knows the terrain to go in and go out as how they did and it's not his residence."

Tush, was sentenced to death in 1999 when he was convicted of murder. But the Privy Council struck that and he was released from prison some years ago, all indications were that he was trying to change his life around.

Janelle Thompson - Common law wife
"He goes to church on Sunday. He just went to church yesterday morning. He was trying to change his life."

Emanuel Pech
"Do you think his past came back to haunt him?"

Janelle Thompson - Common law wife
"Not really."

Emanuel Pech
"What do you think happened? Why was he targeted this way?"

Reporter
"Do you have any idea who it might have been?"

Janelle Thompson - Common law wife
"No."

Sr. Sup. Edward Broaster- O. C. Eastern Rural
"I personally have been dealing with Mr. Tush from the late 80's. As far as I know he was a member of ghost town crips. He went to prison for a while and when he came out of prison it appeared to be he had changed his life. He was running several football teams in Hattieville area proper, but apparently there was still that other side to Mr. Smith which eventually caused his demise yesterday."

Police don't have any clear motive at this time but they believe that it has to do something with either å gang or drug related rivalry.

Insp. Rochelle Chan- Lead investigator
"We have several leads and to determine if there was a turf war of that sort, it would be unlikely at this moment. We are following leads and eliminating as we investigate. We know that yes there were certain allegations where Mr. Tush was involved in some feuds. Nonetheless, nothing to determine that there was a war for drugs."

Sr. Sup. Edward Broaster- O. C. Eastern Rural "Obviously from the information that we are receiving, he had problems with 2 different groups currently. Not in the past. To what extent I cannot say. But it may as well have to do with drugs."

Reporting for 7 news Emanuel Pech.

"Tush" Smith was the father of 4 children with his youngest child only 1 year old.