7 News Belize

City Woman Murdered In A Taxi On the Way Home
posted (March 14, 2016)
A woman was shot and killed on Faber's Road early Sunday morning. 34 year old Tanika Lemott and her friends 33 year old Doris Gilharry and Hanifa Flowers went to the Christopher Martin concert on Saturday night. After the concert, they all caught a cab at around 4 Sunday morning. But on the way home, they couldn't have even imagined that a night of pure enjoyment would end in such a tragedy. Courtney Weatherburne has the story.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
No matter how old and shabby, Tanika loved hanging out with her family and friends here at Mike's Club.

She would go every Sunday with her older sister for karaoke night. She would stand on this stage and sing her favorite country and western songs.

Tanika was the star of those karaoke nights. But now the stage is empty and her voice is muted - - Sunday nights will never be the same without her.

Early Sunday morning, Tanika was shot and killed in front of the St. John's Vianney School. She along with 3 friends were heading home in a taxi after the Christopher Martin concert. But as the taxi driver was about to drop off one of the friends, a vehicle came up behind them and opened fire - hitting Tanika in the back and Doris Gilharry to the chest. The taxi driver Jaime Villanueva was also hit to the back.

Villanueva then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the school fence. One of Tanika's friends who was in the front seat, was not shot but she hit her face on the dash board as a result of the impact. She told us off camera that they left ITVET around 4 in the morning to catch a taxi. That is when the first red flag went up.

Voice of Hanifa Flowers
"When we approached the taxi and we got in there and seated, the taxi man was telling us that "I just throw out a well-known gunman" he said "I don't want any problems, I had to throw him out of my vehicle, I had to physically got out my front seat and throw him out of my vehicle, because I don't want them to shot my vehicle or anything. I don't want to get into any problems." We didn't pay this any mind right. Anyway the taxi was actually taking a long while to reach the destination and I said but why this taxi man is taking this longer route, while he could have maybe come over BelChina Bridge or come towards back the Boulevard and drop me to the extension. He went all the way around over Yabra bridge, through Waight Street and then into Faber's Road and while we were approaching St. John's Vianney School, that's when we heard like two shots rang off and so one of my friends in the back yelled gunshot, so I duck down as low as I could and that's under the dashboard like how I was at the front. While I duck down I heard a large crash. That's when the vehicle crash into the fence and then my face hit the dashboard. I saw stars and stuff. After that I heard my friend Doris yelled she got shot. We were frightened. We didn't expect it, because we know we didn't do anyone anything."

Flowers then dashed out of the vehicle and ran home. Her boyfriend took her to the hospital and that's when she found out the shocking news.

Voice of Hanifa Flowers
"When I approached the hospital I saw 4 of my friends, Tanika's family members and they said that Tanika died. I still can't believe up to now. We went out there for fun and when everything was over we came home and we didn't believe that this would happen. Because we next to reach home."

Flowers says they just wanted to get home but they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Voice of Hanifa Flowers
"I believe we were at the wrong place at the wrong time in deed, because after the concert over, what happened is that we didn't have our own vehicle at the time to get in. So we were trying to catch the quickest way. We felt good that we catch the taxi, because we see that a number of people was out there and at least we catch a taxi for ourselves so that we could come out of the big crowd. If it looks like they were aiming for the driver, but unfortunately she was sitting down behind the driver and that is the reason why she got hit."

Now Tamika's family has to confront the senseless killing of their loved one.

Voice of Andrea Tucker, Older Sister
"My sister was my friend, everything how you would want to put it - how a sister should roll. When I get my day off I would call her "sis where are you?" she would say she at her mom, I would tell her to come, that I would cook. I and she would do whatever and afterward we would go into the big house (Princess) and we would enjoy our day when I get my day off. She loves enjoying herself - she loves party. She wouldn't even hurt a fly. She doesn't have problems with anyone. We just have to take it one day at a time."

That's what Doris Gilharry's mother is doing with her daughter's recovery. Gilharry is still hospitalized but her injury isn't life threatening. Her mother hopes she gets better soon.

Voice of Doris' Mother
"He is doing fine. Thank God that it didn't turned out to be the worst and my sympathies goes out to her best friend from childhood until the day that she passed and I wish my daughter a speedy recovery and I hope everything goes well during her process of healing."

Healing: that is what these families must do now to cope with this tragedy.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize