3 weeks ago
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A 16-year-old of the Ladyville community is in custody tonight for a brazen act of violence that has left one woman dead, and two others injured following a shooting inside a Belize City establishment last night. The incident, captured on surveillance cameras, unfolded in under a minute and sent shockwaves across the community. The shooter was caught on camera and is reportedly cooperating with investigators. Love News reporter Zayna Augustine has more in this disturbing report.
Zayna Augustine, Love News: A night that had only just begun at The Buzz restaurant and bar along the Philip Goldson Highway quickly turned into a scene of horror. Shortly after 6:30 on Thursday evening, employees had already begun setting in for the night shift despite the security officer not yet reporting for duty. Surveillance footage now central to the investigation shows a young man entering the establishment and approaching 34 year old Salma Raquel Orellano Funez who was seated at the bar stool. What followed was a brief but tense exchange. According to investigators, the suspect attempted to take Funez’s cellular phone. The footage shows her initially resisting before eventually handing it over after the man produced a firearm. But what happened next unfolded in mere seconds. Within less than a minute of approaching her the gunman opened fire discharging as many as 10 shots, primarily targeting Funez. The chilling video shows the suspect continuing to fire as he moved away, turning his weapon on other individuals inside the establishment before fleeing. Funez, a Belizean bartender of Vista Del Mar, Ladyville, sustained multiple gunshot injuries as was later pronounced dead at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Police say the suspect had been seen earlier inside the establishment dressed in a white shirt, black pants, and a white bucket hat and had briefly walked towards the bathroom before returning to confront Funez. This afternoon, police spoke person ASP Stacey Smith confirmed that investigators have made significant progress.
ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “Operational efforts were put into place as a part of that investigation and sometime around 11:30 p.m. last night having reviewed a number of video footage this male minor was apprehended. I can also confirm that just a short while ago, the firearm that was suspected to have been used in the incident was also recovered. What I can confirm is that the victim and the accused that is in detention were familiar with each other. We have sought to speak with all persons who were able to provide clarity as to this incident, however as you would imagine they are shaken so much has not been obtained from them so far. What I was told is that the security was supposed to come at 7 o’clock or 7:30 so it just happened that he arrived there before that time. But they do have a police officer that works special duty at that location.”
Zayna Augustine, Love News: As police pursue the investigation the family of the deceased is grappling with grief and unanswered questions. Funez leaves behind three children. Her brother-in-law Joshua Trapp told Love News that the family is still struggling to make sense of the tragedy.
Joshua Trapp, Brother-in-law: “Well, Salma was a very, very hardworking person, a very, very cool person. I would say, you know, all what she was interested to do was to work for her three kids. To start we have to pick up the pieces right now and try to figure out what would be the outcome of the investigation of the police and basically move on from there. The only thing we could understand from eye witnesses is that the person went direct to her and ask her for her phone. So the question is why? Who is he? You know, we cannot answer that question as yet. I know her for the past 10 years she is all about from work to home, work to home. You know, I can’t say what she does on her off timer more than you know hang out with her kids. Her kids were her life. I would just hope that justice prevails fro this whole situation.”
Zayna Augustine, Love News: He added that they remain uncertain about any possible connections between Funez and her attacker. As the investigation intensifies, police are also exploring possible motives behind the brutal killing.
ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “A possible theory as to that that is being explored is that there was some indication that he may have threatened her before and those messages would have been on the phone. So it is suspected that him in his puerile state thought taking away the phone allows him to cover the evidence. There’s not much that is known at this moment, however, we are hopeful that as investigation continues more clarity would be brought. ‘Cause certainly this is an incident that has touched a lot of persons and more so now learning that it was a 16-year-old minor that is the person that is implicated. It certainly takes it, at least for me, to another more concerning level.”
Zayna Augustine, Love News: While some external reports suggest the possibility of a crime of passion, police say no definitive motive has been established at this time. Zayna Augustine reporting for Love News.
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