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So, they were stunned when they heard that a gunman shot and killed him in the ruthless fashion usually reserved for the notorious street figures of the criminal underworld. Our news team went looking for answers today, and Daniel Ortiz reports:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
38 year-old Nathan Underwood was killed here at his Bar in Gardenia Village at Mile 21 on the Phillip Goldson Highway.

Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police
"Ladyville detectives responded to a shooting incident at mile 21 on the Philip Goldson Highway at Gardenia Village at Nate's Cool Spot. On the arrival, they observed the lifeless body of a dark complexion male person lying down on the floor of the kitchen. He was later identified as 38 year old Nathan Underwood, of a Hattieville Address."

He was tending to his last few customers for this Friday night, and while he was preparing food to serve, a gunman, who may have been lurking for some time here in the bushes, attacked.

The shooter fired several shots at Underwood through this open window at the back of the bar. He was hit multiple times in the back, and the very same spot where he fell is where he took his last breath.

Inspector Juanito Cocom
"Initial investigations revealed that he was alone in his kitchen when a lone gunman came from behind the building and fired several shots at him through the window causing the fatal injuries. The scene was visited, processed, 11 expended shells were recovered."

Voice of: Brother of the Deceased
"I was in my house when I heard the thing. According to one of the guys, they were saying that the gunman came through the back, shot him and went through the gate. I don't have any reason why they would kill him."

Daniel Ortiz
"So you want to believe that he may have been hiding in the bushes to try to catch him off-guard?"

Voice of: Brother of the Deceased
"Yes I believe he was there a good while because a couple more guys were at the front but the gunman waited until the crowd started to break up and only him and the 2 other guys left."

Other residents told us off camera that immediately after the assailant stopped shooting, he ran from the back of the bar to the side of the road. Reportedly he encountered one of the bar patrons trying to escape the sounds of gunfire, and that's when he took aim at that fleeing man and opened fire for a second time. Fortunately, that patron escaped unharmed. The gunman then jumped into a getaway car which sped off into the night.

Police can't say at this time why this family man, said to also be a hardworking businessman, was killed in this street-style slaying. His family, devastated by his violent death, also cannot make sense of it either.

Inspector Juanito Cocom
"No motive has been established as yet. Detectives are on the ground as we speak continuing the investigation."

Ardilett Bainton - Fiancé of the Deceased
"Nathan was one of the best fathers ever, and anyone who knew him, knew how hard working he was, how dedicated he was to his family and to his children that was their world. They just made my baby's world crumble."

Daniel Ortiz
"We were told that your brother is an honest business man. He moved his bar from Hattieville to this location."

Voice of: Brother of the Deceased
"Yes that's true he was a hardworking man. All I know is that he works hard for what he wants."

Inspector Juanito Cocom
"We have some leads which we are working on, but we cannot divulge it. The investigation is very young as yet."

Daniel Ortiz
"There is some suspicion that maybe your relatives from Belize City, the other Underwood's who are believed to be connected to the streets. Maybe some of their enemies came looking for your brother, Mr. Underwood, and that is what caused all this. Is there any truth to that? Is there any reason to believe that that might be what happened?"

Voice of: Brother of the Deceased
"I don't believe that because yes their family, we still have to talk but we aren't linked in that kind of way. I don't believe that it's true."

His common-law wife, with whom he spent 18 years, told us that just last week he asked her to marry him. But, tragedy has visited her home and instead of celebrating the next chapter of their lives together, she must make arrangements to lay him to rest.

Ardilett Bainton
s "It's like a very hard time to lose him. They really took away a very grateful man, a great man. I can't even explain, I'm at lost for words. Everyone who asked me was like 'Nathan? Not Nathan. Who would want to hurt Nathan by gun violence?' come on people we need to stop this, you're not hurting the people who are already dead, you're hurting the kids, my 3 kids and me deeply. I feel like my world has fallen apart, everyone knows it's been 18 long years and it's just wiped away. He's gone and he's never coming back. It really pains me, all I want to see is justice and to lay him to rest, we don't want no retaliation, no violence, please just let us lay him to rest in peace."

Underwood also leaves behind 3 children.