Dangriga Police Seek Murderer in Pomona Home Invasion

Braiton Tharique Polanco

A horrible home invasion at an isolated farm on the Hummingbird Highway ended tragically for the Polanco family. One of five minors at home was senselessly murdered in front of his siblings, when he recognized the perpetrators of the burglary. It all happened when three gunmen entered the house, bound the children and the caretaker who was at a nearby house, took possession of a gun belonging to the Polanco’s and used it on the minor. News Five’s Duane Moody was in the south today and spoke to the caretaker and the family about the traumatic ordeal.

Duane Moody, Reporting

A home invasion on Friday morning on the Hummingbird Highway in Stann Creek ended tragically for the Polanco family. Fifteen year old Braiton Tharique Polanco was shot once below the chin with a shotgun by one of the three perpetrators who accosted the family.

Ralph Moody

Sr. Supt. Ralph Moody, Southern Regional Commander, Police Department

“Police received information of a home invasion at mile twenty-six and a half on the Hummingbird Highway. Police responded to the area where they saw the lifeless body of a male person who we learned later to be Braiton Polanco of the said location. We also found out that one Mister Bernard Usher was tied up and taken inside of his residence. The three masked men then took possession of a shotgun where Mister Polanco, who was shot, heard the commotion….he went there to see what was the commotion and he was shot by one of the three masked men.”

The three Hispanic attackers wore masked and were initially armed with machetes. At the time of the aggravated burglary, sixty-four year old Bernard Usher and five minors were at home. The perps initially tied up Usher before heading to the main house and bound several of the children with ropes.

Bernard Usher

Bernard Usher, Bound by Assailants

“Bout eight-thirty, I was downstairs in my room right there and three Spanish guys just rush in with machetes and they hold me up and tie me up. Afterwards they gone over the next house. I managed to pull lose and I gone over there because I know the kids are in that side. When I got over there, the gun point in my face again. They tied me up again inside. After that bout five minutes, I hear the shot gone off outside.”

Duane Moody

“How did you get free the second time around?”

Bernard Usher

“The second time around, they neva completely tie me up yet. They mi done tie mi foot already so only my hand left. And when the shot gone off, the one weh mi di tie me, the two o them left me alone and gone out gone see the next guy weh had the gun.”

Hearing the commotion, Braiton came to the front of the house with one of his younger brothers. There is where one of the bandits, now brandishing a shotgun stolen from inside the house, fired the deadly blast. Thomas Polanco was notified hours later and rushed from Dangriga to his house at miles twenty-six and a half on the highway to find the lifeless body of his grandson.

Thomas Polanco

Thomas Polanco, Grandfather of Murder Victim

“I received a phone call from a young lady in Dangriga; I was just coming back home.  About ten minutes past eleven she told me that they shot my grandson, so immediately I came. (Crying) When I come, the police were here and my grandson mi deh pan di ground there. Police tell me I can’t go see he and they got me till about after one o’clock or close to two. Then when dehn done, then I gone see ahn and we pick him up and put him in the back of the pickup and then dehn take all finger prints.”

Following the shooting, the bandits escaped into nearby bushes with an assortment of household items and cash. Polanco says that at least one of the masked men worked at the family business and knew the layout of the property. Braiton’s life was callously taken when he called the perp by his name.

Thomas Polanco

“He listened to the rambling that the guys were doing and then di guys had entered my room already and when dehn came out they just stuck the gun underneath my grandson and shoot him. According to one of my granddaughter, the person was tying her but she took off the mask off his face and she recognized him. His name is Eddis Hernandez and he was a worker that was working with me and I use to treat him good—feed and give him a good day pay. I even stamped his passport and I was even looking for work permit for him.”

Bernard Usher

“One of the guys dehn weh come with dehn. The kids say dehn see one of them and he used to work here with us. So he know everything about the house.”

Duane Moody

“So you believe it was a set up?”

Bernard Usher

“Yep, it was a set up.”

Several items have been recovered, but the killer and his accomplices, believed to be Hondurans, are still at large.

Sr. Supt. Ralph Moody

“They fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. A television, VCR and other items. Police conducted search within the immediate area where they found the TV and the VCR. The scene was processed and the body was later transported to the Dangriga hospital.”

Duane Moody

“Sir we know that several items have been recovered, but the perpetrators, what of them? What is the investigation showing so far?”

Sr. Supt. Ralph Moody

“Well we are looking for a suspect at this current moment. We are trying to see how we can get assistance from our neighboring country as well. I don’t want to give any name at this moment or having any prejudice of this investigation.”

Thomas Polanco

“Me noh mind weh dehn thief from me, but what I mind is they ketch the man dehn weh kill my grandson. Dehn neva study me. So I tell them tonight the man dehn wah come right out by mi house about seven o’clock. They will walk down to Middlesex and dehn could wait right dah di bump before yo reach the school. I tell them if yo wait there or cal somebody unu wah find di man there.”

Braiton was to start ITVET in Dangriga today, but will instead be laid to rest at the farm on Tuesday. Duane Moody for News Five.