What’s the Motive Behind Shooting of San Pedro Cabdriver?

Juan Menjivar

In Tuesday’s newscast, we told you of a brazen daylight shooting in San Pedro Town just outside the cargo area of Maya Island Air on the island. A gunman took aim at thirty-one year old taxi-man Juan Menjivar as he stood on the sidewalk just a few yards from his vehicle. As many as six shots were fired and three found their mark on Menijvar, who was rushed to the San Pedro Polyclinic before being airlifted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Since then, the police have carried out an operation to find the alleged shooter, but to no avail. It is believed, however, that he is still on the island. The shooter allegedly fled the scene and jumped on a jet-ski waiting in the lagoon. Today, a Coastguard boat was seen patrolling the lagoon in search of the watercraft and its driver.  News Five asked San Pedro Police if Menjivar’s previous run-ins with the law caught up with him.

Sgt. Lenancio Bol, Station Sergeant, San Pedro Police

“Juan Menjivar, thirty-one year old taxi driver Belizean of San Pedrito San Pedro Town. He was at that location standing. He works between Maya Island Air and Tropic Air….he is a taxi operator and he was there standing when he was approached by a Hispanic male person on a bicycle. This person rode up to him stood about ten to fifteen feet from him and fire d between five to six shots in his direction. He received what appears to be three gunshot wounds—one to his left forearm, one to his wrist and his abdomen area. He was taken to the polyclinic here and then later transported to the K.H.M.H. under stable condition. Yes he was arrested and charged in the past for both offenses—firearm-related offenses and drug offenses—nevertheless, he had his time in court and that matter has been withdrawn, thrown out from the court. So we cannot say that it is drug related or we do not want to speculate as such.”

Lenancio Bol

Duane Moody

“Sir, but what is the investigation showing as to a motive behind this shooting?”

Sgt. Lenancio Bol

“Well we are looking at it on different angles. Like I said, I will not speculate and I will not prematurely give comments in regards to it. The officer that is dealing with the matter; he has someone that he needs to pick up for question…someone right off the island. With the information that we had yesterday, we had an operation in the night but this individual has still not been found, at least not as yet.”