7 News Belize

2017 Ends With Another Murder
posted (January 2, 2018)
2017 ends tied with 2012 for the most violent year on record with 145 murders - by our count. That is tied with 2012 for the all time high - though we expect police will have a slightly lower number.

And just as 2017 was about to end another life was lost to gun violence. 22 year old Fredrick Smith was murdered on Iguana Street Extension in the wee hours of New Year's Eve. The motive of the murder is still being investigated but, it matters little, because tonight, another family grieves the loss of a loved one. We found out more about Smith today.

Sahar Vasquez reporting
Fareed Ahmad's murder was not the last of 2017. On New Year's Eve night 22-year-old Fredrick Smith was fatally shot in the upper back while riding away from his mother's house on Iguana Street Extension.

ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC, CIB Belize City
"Upon arrival they observed a male person lying face down inside of a drain. The male person was identified as that of Frederick Smith and as a result of that police observed that he had an apparent gunshot injury to his upper left back. He was transported to the KHMH where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The matter is currently under investigation and police has detained one person who is being interviewed at this moment."

However, Smiths record is not squeaky clean. Back in May of 2015 he was accused of being part of a major heist at M and Ms Engineering where $10,000 in cash along with another 10,000 in cheques was stolen.

There were other brushes with the law but despite Smiths history, his uncle says he was a fun-loving guy that cared deeply for his family.

Relative of Deceased
"He does not really have a job. He has a part-time job. He works now and again when something comes up so he can take care of his kids. He has one daughter. He has two sisters and three brothers. He was a loving person. He was always smiling, giving jokes. He is not a bad person or one that likes to do negative things. He is a person that lives with his family. Especially his kids that he loves. His daughter."

"She will really miss her dad and thing because he always had his focus on her because she was the one that he was living for."

"Sometimes you might have your mishaps in life that you go through. He is someone that usually keeps it to himself. He does not take his problems to anyone or anything like that."

And now all the family wants to do is send their beloved family member off to a more peaceful place.

Relative of Deceased
"We just want to bury him peacefully and let him go to rest because that is what life is all about. It is time for me to put him to rest and that will happen."

Smith leaves behind a three-year-old daughter. Police continue to investigate.

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