The serenity in Succotz was shattered by a late evening slaying. 45 year old Luis Camal better known as "Johnny" was shot and killed around 8:00 last night. Camal, his wife and their 15 year old daughter were held up at gun point on the road linking Succotz and Benque. Instead of just taking their belongings, something went terribly wrong and the gunman took Camal's life. Courtney Weatherburne has more.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
45 year old Luis Camal would have been among these vendors at the Succutz Ferry selling his wood carvings.
Camal has been carving for about 25 years and he inspired his brother and sister
To make art pieces of their own. It has become a family tradition. But it will be hard to keep that artistic spirit alive without him.
Camal went to Luck's Computer shop yesterday evening to print the designs for his new carvings.
His wife and 15 year old daughter then met up with him later on at this Basketball court.
After buying a few groceries they all headed home on this Succutz-Benque Road, cloaked in darkness that is when they were ambushed by 2 men.
They were hiding in the bush. Camal's wife gave us the account of the frightening hold up.
Luby Camal, Wife (translated)
"We went up the road that we always walk up every time and that is when 2 men came out and said "Stay there or we will shoot you." Then we stood there, it was 3 of us, my husband and my daughter and my daughter was ahead of us on the hill and my husband was walking up behind me and then I saw the man had a gun and was pointing at us. The man said again "Stop or else I will shoot you , I have a gun and then I came and I said "Boy, calm down, calm down " and then my husband got frightened and shouted "Hey Boy". When the gunman heard my husband shout, he shot my husband. They wanted us to stand still so they could rob us."
Camal's daughter was ahead and didn't know what was happening until she heard the echo of the gunshot that struck her dad to the chest.
Voice of Daughter
"The man told him that he will shoot and he repeated that two times that he will shoot and then 2 minutes after, he shot my dad and I heard the shot from the gun."
The police confirmed that it was a robbery turned murder. They say they are counting on the community to help bring justice to this family.
Supt. Daniel Arzu, OC - Benque Viejo Police
"One had demanded certain things from him and he defending his property and his family and he resisted the individual. We are looking at that direction at the motive being robbery simply because there were certain demands and subsequently there was this gunshot being fired at his direction, so definitely we are handling this case along the scope of robbery. We are hopeful to reach somewhere with this investigation and we are seeking the assistance of the communities, Succutz and Benque Viejo, to engage in this latest investigation."
But perhaps, it is the family that will need the most help and support to confront their loss. All they have left is Camal's carvings and the memories of the life he once shared with them.
Selene Camal, Sister
"For right now it will be a week since I saw him that is the last time I saw my brother. He was with me together because I was fixing my fence and he was there with me, I said to him "brother you know what, I need some rock" and he said "I will help you" and then after that I saw him bring the rock. He was always with me there, he was a great brother."
The police are looking for the 2 men. Camal leaves behind his wife and 3 kids.
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