So far in the month of August, we have reported on seven murders in Belize City - and tonight there's one more. A 32 year old father of five was killed close to his home on the Jane Usher area of Belize City this morning. 7News was first on the scene and here's our report:
Sahar Vasquez reporting
Just after 8:00 this morning on Curl Thompson Street 32-year-old Gilroy Martinez was murdered a couple blocks from his residence. Police report that Martinez was visiting a residence in his neighborhood and he left upon his return back to the residence he was murdered. His family and friends are shocked, but his sister says that this is not the first time they tried to kill him.
Shakema Lorenzo, Sister of Deceased
"Yes they have a satisfaction out of it because from time last about Saturday night they mi wan kill ah they lay wait ah in a lee corner but same time my sista in law see dem. My sista in law holla fries go down that lane deh and my sista bawl at a them and tell them ho do that and same time they put down the gun and breda gone so gone and tek the next street where he live and gone home cause dey mi ah kill ah right from that same areas deh."
"I don't know. Dah weh ih mussi di heng with some gang membas. I don't know they want kill ah but he dah a nice person and thing."
"From the time they lone di send threats to my bredda and he dah wah calm person but once you fool with ah he wah fool back with you too."
The police lifted him from the pool of blood that he lay in and his wife and family took one last glimpse of their loved one. As distraught as his loved ones were, his wife, and daughter gave us a few words off camera:
Princella Samuels, Family Friend
"He watch we grow up. He was a nice person he I noh know has no problem man ih heng with bad people yes but I noh know he as a problem person."
Voice of: Rashanda Williams, Wife of deceased
"He just a kind hearted person."
Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"What did he do for work?"
Rashanda Williams, Wife of deceased
"He dah mi ah construction worker."
Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"You think he was possibly set up?"
Rashanda Williams, Wife of deceased
"I believe so."
Martinez leaves behind a wife and five children all under the age of 12. His murder is the eighth in August - and police have to move decisively to make sure there aren't more.
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"You think we gwen have another round again like retaliation and so?"
Shakema Lorenzo, Sister of deceased
"I think so sir. I think so because ih no done yet the person who do it ih no done yet."
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