7 News Belize

19 Year Old Killed In City, Gang Truce In Jeopardy?
posted (May 5, 2017)
So, while the double murder in Corozal is keeping investigators busy, there was a another gun murder in the city last night - the first involving a Southside teenager since the all city gangs met with police for a temporary cease fire over three weeks ago. 19 year-old Michael Bonilla was killed as he rode his bicycle on Elston Kerr street around 8:45.

And while the cops don't believe his murder to be gang related, it makes no difference for the family now grieving his loss.

Our news team went looking for answers, and Daniel Ortiz has that story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
19 year-old Michael Bonilla was shot here on Elston Kerr Street last night. Police believe that he was gunned down by an unknown gunman, who ambushed him while he was in transit on his bicycle.

He never made it to his destination and he died on this street which runs behind Gwen Lizarraga High School.

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"Sometime after 9pm last night, Thursday May 4, 2017, police responded to a shooting incident on Elston Kerr Street where upon arrival they saw a male person laying on top of his bicycle. Upon inspection of the body, police observed several gunshot wounds to the person's body and also several expended shells were found on the scene. Whilst the scene was being processed, a family member came and identified the person as Michael Bonilla, 19 year old of a Jane Usher address Belize City."

Reporter
"Any idea of what he was doing in Belize City since we understand he doesn't reside here?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"We have confirmed that he was in Dangriga living. Apparently he had just move to Belize City about a month or month and a half ago and he was staying with family members in Jane Usher area."

Reporter
"Anything on the shooter, was he in a car or a bike anything like that?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"What we have gather is that the person came from behind and just fired a shot at the person while he was riding his bicycle towards Antelope Street Extension."

Reporter
"The shooter was on foot."

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"Yes he was on foot."

His cousin told us today, that it happened so fast that she almost couldn't believe it. They were speaking only a few minutes before the shots rang out.

Voice of: Family Member, Cousin of Deceased
"I just left him to go and buy something at the store and then on my way back they told me that he got shot and I was like no, he was just in the house. One minute you are here and the next you are gone."

At this time, it is unclear to investigators why he was killed, but at least for right now, they don't think its gang related.

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Is the investigation showing why this happened sir?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"Up to this point in time we do not have a motive as to why the person was shot."

Reporter
"What about witnesses?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"Very few witnesses that we have at this moment that we have interviewed, but so far we haven't gotten no information from them. So far our investigation has shown us that it is not gang related. Up to now we have information that the person was living in the Jane Usher area and he was not affiliate with any of the gangs that we know here in Belize City."

Family members and friends tell us that he grew up in Belize City, but he moved to Dangriga with his sister and aunt later in life. Though he never got into any kind of trouble with the law, he returned to here, a few weeks ago. His family says that this may have been his only mistake, being a bit too fond of his old stomping ground.

Voice of: Family Member - Cousin of Deceased
"He went to Dangriga for a while and between that time he came back. That was probably 2 weeks ago and it was only a short period of time. I guess he missed the city, because this is where he grew up and most of his friends are here. So I guess that is why he came back. It was actually a shock to me because he was talking to us and as he finished talking to us he just went and that was when he got shot. In our yard we just hang out and we chill, we run jokes because Michael is always a jovial person. He loves running jokes, he like playing with the kids and having fun. That's just him. I never encountered a time where he got into any conflicts for the period of time that I've known him."

Voice of: Nishmer Estrada - Friend of Deceased
"He was a humble person. He always hang around with us and as far as I know, he is my boyfriend's cousin too and he is just a nice person to everybody. He is always helping and I just vex, because it's not fair that they took away his life."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Did he perhaps hang out with people who are dangerous, that would get him into things? Why would someone wants to take his life?"

Voice of: Nishmer Estrada - Friend of Deceased
"Only who killed him knows about him, because he always hang with my boyfriend in the yard, but when he comes out, I don't really knows what he does, but I believe that I don't think he would want to trouble somebody out there, because he is always helping. They just wanted to kill him, I don't believe that he did someone something. I don't understand the reason why they took away someone life like that. It's not fair."

Police have one person detained for questioning.

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