Villagers in the West are up arms against the GSU for the alleged unjustified shooting of crippled vendor of Bullet Tree Village Roberto Chan. The incident occurred yesterday around 7 in the evening. Roberto was driving his wife and two children back home after visiting a friend in the Calla Creek Area, Cayo District. They were driving north towards Bullet Tree with their 6 year old daughter sleeping in the back seat and their 8 months old son sleeping on his mother's lap in the front passenger seat. But upon reaching an area they know to them as La Linea, they heard two gunshots and realized that Roberto was shot. The bullet came from back, went through the back of the drivers seat and hit Roberto in the right arm.
Now what the GSU are saying is that they were conducting vehicular check points in that area when a Toyota 4 Runner, driven by Roberto Chan almost ran over one of their team members. However the family of Roberto Chan has an entirely different story. Here is what they said occurred.
Roberto Chan, Claims unjustified GSU shooting
"I screamed and felt the shot. I told my wife to check the baby; my 6 year old and my 8 months children. I feel bad right now. My baby cry too much."
Emanuel Pech
"What sort of emotions were running through your mind?"
Roberto Chan, Claims unjustified GSU shooting
"Because I thought that maybe they killed my baby girl."
Lupe Chan, Claims unjustified GSU shooting
"I heard police saying "its police, police." So I shouted after them don't shoot, I have two babies in my vehicle. So two of them came to his (Roberto Chan) side and they saw that he was injured. I ask them why did they stop the vehicle like that instead of you putting a check point with flashlights or something? They didn't answered me. They just told me to check you kids. I say to why what if you shot one of my kids? What will happen then, I told them."
Emanuel Pech
"At any point did they call back to you, did they made any sort of warnings to make you stop before they shoot?"
Lupe Chan, Claims unjustified GSU shooting
"No. They didn't do anything. Right here is a dark place and we didn't see any vehicle, we didn't see any check point, we didn't see any flashlights - nothing. We just heard the two shots and when my husband yelled was because one bullet caught him."
Emanuel Pech
"You thought they were criminals?"
Lupe Chan, Claims unjustified GSU shooting
"Yes I thought it was criminals because that place is bushy, dark and almost no vehicles passed there. Only us who have a ranch there at that place."
Authorities in San Ignacio say they were not aware of the checkpoint because the GSU were dispatched from Belize City. Villagers are saying that the GSU had gone to Calla Creek incognito in an unmarked van with tinted windows with a civilian license plates. We understand that Calla Creek is known as a hot zone for smuggling due to its close proximity to the Western border. Roberto has a crippled left arm as a result of a childhood injury, which makes his full recuperation all the more important for the family as the sole breadwinner. However up to now doctors in San Ignacio have been unable to extract the bullet from Roberto's shoulder and say he will have to be transported to Belize for surgery; but at his own expense- an expense which they cannot afford. The family is now turning to public for assistance. Anybody wishing to help financially or otherwise can contact the family at 6639711. They also indicated to us that they will be pressing charges against the GSU for excessive use of firearm.
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