7 News Belize

Teenager Killed On Wrong Side Of Street
posted (May 9, 2017)
When we left you last night, it was with the sad news that the war in the streets has apparently started again - and this time it claimed the life of a 19 year old. Ludwin Lalin was killed just a short distance from his home in the Jane Usher Boulevard area - less than a day after police had a family day in that area to bring rival factions together. And maybe that's why Lalin took a chance he normally wouldn't take - he went to a grocery store not far from home, but in the turf of a rival group - and he paid for it with his life. Alex Courtney has the story:...

Alex Courtney reporting
19 year old Ludwin Lalin was shot dead last night after a barrage of almost a dozen bullets lit up Curl Thompson Street. Lalin, who had just stepped out to buy a few groceries, was only two blocks away from his home. After hearing the heavy gunfire, his family rushed to the scene only to find their loved one already dead.

Milisia Castillo - Cousin of the deceased
"When I reach outside I see my uncle and my neighbor deh di cry up an ting so, I ask deh dah weh happen, dah weh happen. So my neighbor tell me "Gyal dah yo cousin dah yo cousin". So I seh my cousin? Which one ah my cousin deh? Ih seh dah yo lee cousin, I noh kno dah which one as yet. Ih seh ih gon da sho gone buy so I ask which shop. Ih seh Maria so I run, I run and I left deh right front ah di gate deh and I run gone and wehn I reach deh so by d shop I see my lee cousin deh so between d culvert and d road. He just lay out pan d ground, he mih look like he di sleep."

Lalin's murder comes barely 24 hours after the Police Department hosted a family day in the area to defuse growing tensions.

Sr. Supt. Alden Dawson - Deputy OC, Southside Police
"The family day in this area, every person is invited, wherever you are from, whatever gang you claimed to be, you are invited to the family day. This is one of the areas that we have seen some issues lately. You know that the taxi man was killed in this general Port Loyola area a few days ago and we want to continue to build the relationship with the police and the community in this area."

From family day to a funeral, the shooter's motive is still unknown, but Lalin's father told us that he may have received a life threatening text or phone call earlier in the day. His cousin also mentioned that he recently made some enemies in the area over the last few months.

Milisia Castillo - Cousin of the deceased
"A few months ago we had a conversation and yes the topic come up and ting, but fi seh he call names fi seh dah who, no. Yo kno, he just seh dah he cya ride certain parts ah d neighborhood because he got problems with certain people. And ih so happen dat out ah one ah deh real odd days weh he neva go buy da dah shop bak deh, dat he gon deh. I cya eem get he fi go deh go buy. I cud neva, neva get he fi go go buy deh. He wuda prefer tek wah haf ah hour or a hour di go someweh else dan rite deh. I think dat dah weh happen rte deh, deh tek ah pan d weakest point wen ih di go da shop go buy."

And while nobody could have predicted what seems like a random shooting, Lalin's family says that there has been a noticeable lack of police presence in the area.

Milisia Castillo - Cousin of the deceased
"Weh puzzle me dah how no police neva middi do fi deh patrol ina d evening and deh man di always patrol tru d neighborhood and ting fi mek deh things noh happen. Fi avoid deh yah thing fra happen."

While they wait for police to complete their investigation, Lalin's family says they will miss him most for his friendly nature.

Milisia Castillo - Cousin of the deceased
"Right now weh di hurt me dah who I wah cud quarrel with soon dah maanin. Dah fi we hours dah fa 6 dah maanin we get up and we usually di siddown downstairs, if we noh di downstairs we di upstairs. When I wah cook I cya tell he bwai pull down a 2 coconut fi me. An ih just."

While there are reports that he was Guatemalan, his father told us Ludwin LAlin was born in Belize and raised in the area. Police have no suspects at this time.

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