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Double Murder In Ladyville
posted (January 24, 2018)
And the biggest murder story is the one coming out of Ladyville. That's where two men were murdered and two other persons shot in a long simmering rivalry. Daniel Ortiz has been following that story last night and he found out that it could be retaliation - and that there could be aftershocks because the rivals live less than half a mile from each other:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Last night, Marage Road, a main street in Ladyville, was shut down for hours because it was once again the scene of a murder. Residents who needed to use it to get home were stuck behind police caution tape while police investigators scanned the crime scene in the dark.

This time, it was a double murder: 24 year-old Casey Lozano and 25 year-old Marlon Spain.

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"Police were called to an area in the Marage Road where they observed a male person on the ground, motionless. This person was learned to be Casey Lozano, and another male person by the name of Marlon Spain. Both of them several apparent gunshot wounds to the body. Casey Lozano was found about 200 yards away from the first body."

Two dead and two shot. 22 year-old Jonah Gray, and 47 year-old Sidney Humes were also injured.

Lozano, Spain and Gray were socializing in this yard, which belongs to one of Spain's family members. The gunmen reportedly snuck up on the group by hiding in the bushes so that they could get close and catch them with their guards down.

Cynthia Lozano - Mother of Casey Lozano
"I heard personally from my sons how it happened because they knew exactly who it is. They gave a clean detail of how what transpired there last night, and we just have to wait until the hands of the law catch up with them."

Voice of: Randolph Spain - Brother of Marlon Spain
"As he stepped here, the gunman came from the through the bush and shot the man."

Reporter
"So, he was with..."

Voice of Randolph Spain
"All of them were out there, but he was coming out of this house, and he was coming down. But, the rest were sitting out on the front there. So, as he stepped out, it looks like the men came from through the bush and shot the man."

Sidney Humes was an innocent bystander who, unfortunately, happened to be passing the same time these gunmen pounced on the group. He was injured by a stray bullet.

Casey Lozano is the second son that the Lozano family has lost far too soon. His mother, Cynthia, who's had to deal with gunmen shooting up her house in the past, told us that mere minutes before the shooting took place, she was talking with Casey about a big catering job she got as a food vendor. As her chief helper, he was going to assist with the job.

He went right across the street to the neighbor, where he was gunned down shortly after they finished talking

Cynthia Lozano - Mother of Casey Lozano
"So he ask me he says mommy why dont you let me do it because as you know his personally, he was my right hand. We worked for 10 years in my place of business, just me and him. When I wasn't in the country, he was the one cooking. By the time I walked in the room I saw him jump on his bicycle and ride out. I got not even 2 minutes I hear the barrage of gunfire and I was like oh my God my kids are out there, I hope it's not one of them and by the time I run out I saw 2 people came running. I didn't know who it was. It was my third son. He said mommy open the door and I said "dah what" and I saw the other one coming from this side. So I open the door and I let them in. I ask where is Casey because he just rode out. He said mommy he is coming. I said where is he, he should be here. I was trying to make sure that I wasn't going to lose another child, but in my heart I knew he had already left, but because his other brothers were beating him up and wetting him, he was there grasping and that was a little hope, so he was picked up from there. The police came and they took him, but he passed before..."

At this time, the motive for this deadly attack is unknown, police say that they are investigating all leads.

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"At present, they have 3 male persons detained. They are seeking for 2 more that can assist in the investigation. At this time, the investigation is at a very infant stage, and to determine who was the intended target, I can't tell you direct. But, we suspect that one of the persons who was there was the target."

Reporter
"We know that some persons who were in that group, they've had run-ins with the law in the past. Is it that that is what has come back to haunt them?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"The persons who were in the yard, several of them have had many run-ins with the law, and they've been charged several times for different offenses. So, we, at this moment, cannot tell you that directly, it is because of this or that. They've had several instances that they have already been detained, and charged for several offenses that Ladyville."

Reporter
"Is it also a gang rivalry?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"That is one of the things that we are looking at."

And while police were guarded about their theories about the motive, Cynthia Lozano told us that she strongly believes that her son died last night as part of a retaliation for the March 2016 murder of Rene "Fat Cat" Chavarria. She says that if was indeed retaliation for that, it was uncalled for.

Cynthia Lozano
"The way things are today I wouldn't want to speculate but my honest opinion: this is stemming from Rene Chavaria "Fat Cat" murder. This is from that and all I want these boys to know if Rene was alive, nobody would have touch my family, because despite of what the streets said about Rene, Rene had respect for me, Rene had respect for my family and he was always here. He was like a son to me. I don't know where they are going with it, if they think they are going to get stripes, because as far as I am concerned he wouldn't have condone this."

And right now, there is a grieving neighborhood that's angry and bitter from last night's double murder. Tensions are heightened and violence could erupt on a hair trigger since rivals live in close proximity.

On one side, there's the Marage Road/Compassion Lane crew, and on the other, there is the Milpa Crew. While on the ground this morning, we witnessed a beatdown which almost took place. One of the residents from the Milpa area rode past on his bicycle, and the mere sight of him caused the grieving friends to target him. Fortunately, he got away after taking a few punches and kicks.

For the families whose loved ones died, that pain is just as intense.

Cynthia Lozano
"If Casey was a child on the streets getting into stuff I would have expected this, but Casey is a no-nonsense guy, he don't take any joke, so he stays away from company. He keeps mature company. Casey company is female, because he is very thin skin. He doesn't run jokes, he don't like to run joke and of he tells you to back off once and he tells you twice, you have a left hand coming. So with that, he have grown out of that, he is older now, I speak to him that things have changed, you need to change. This is not the way, but to say he would pick up a gun and be out there jeopardizing people's lives - that wasn't Casey lifestyle. Casey lifestyle was music. He loved music. Anywhere a box was, that was where Casey would associate himself. The way Casey loved music, I went and I bought a very expensive stereo because I wanted him in my house."

Reporter
"Do you have any idea why they shot him?"

Voice of: Randolph Spain
"We don't have any idea, because we don't give trouble. We don't have problems with anybody, so its still puzzling."

Reporter
"Can you tell us what type of person your brother was?"

Voice of: Randalf Spain
"He was alright, funny, outspoken."

As you heard in our story, Casey Lozano is the second son that the Lozano family has lost. Back in April 2013, his brother, 21 year-old Ryan Lozano was shot and killed by police who say that he was caught in the act of burglarizing a home.

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