15 year old is latest murder victim
Over the last few months we’ve seen homicides claim victims of all shapes and sizes, sexes and ages. So while tonight’s report on the murder of a Belize City teenager may not be unusual, it is still disturbing
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Andrew Fuentes was only fifteen years old when he was gunned down and killed between X-tra House and Raymond Parks Night Shelter on Orange Street. Sometime before eleven on Thursday night, Fuentes, who lives in the area at number thirty-three Cairo Street, had just returned from buying food for a neighbour when he once again left his house to buy food for himself with the money he had just been paid for the errand. But shortly after he set out on foot, several loud gunshots rang out through the neighbourhood.
Marie Fuentes, Aunt/Guardian
“About four to five gunshots. And from I hear the first one, I tell my bwai that Andrew get shot, and he say no, cause he see ah gone up the street.”
Seventy-seven year old Egbert Woods, a resident at the Raymond Parks Night Shelter, said he was sleeping in his bed, but woke up after he heard the shots that came from just outside his open window.
Egbert Woods, Resident, Raymond Parks Night Shelter
?Well I awake, when I heard four loud (imitates gun noise) ?bye-bye-bye-bye?. Then I closed my window, because my window was opened and I closed it. Then after I close it, I get up and I tilt it; I tilt it open then I saw the man on the ground there. That is all I can… I could never tell you who did it, who it was, I didn?t see anybody else.?
Marie Fuentes, who raised her nephew from when he was only two years old, says although she knew that Fuentes was hit, she could not believe the news until she saw him on the ground.
Mariue Fuentes, Aunt/Guardian
?I see one innah his neck and innah his body, and like blood just the pour out ah his under-shirt. But the one innah his neck, the blood just the spray up, so my bwai tek wah shirt and he like cover it till the police they come. Then he pick up ah; the police they not even want help fi pick up ah, put ah innah the vehicle. He try put ah innah the vehicle and so we carry ah dah hospital, and right dah the hospital door they pronounced him dead.?
Jacqueline Woods
Police say shortly after the shooting, two young men were seen riding away on bicycles. Information reaching News 5 suggests that the killing may have been as a result of a misunderstanding that another young man had with the victim. Authorities say they are following up on a number of leads, but so far have not detained anyone for the murder.
According to the family, last week Fuentes had problems with a couple of young men about a bicycle, but they are not certain if that was why he was why he feared for his life.
Marie Fuentes
?All of a sudden he nuh want walk the street, he fear. He usually go to the neighbour, from the neighbour house he come over dah we. But he come late the night, he would come like ten o?clock fi sleep, but last night is the only night he come in early, without I had to hail him he come in. He come in mussi seven to eight o?clock.?
At the crime scene police recovered three nine millimetre expended shells. Young Fuentes? life was not easy. His aunt says as with all young boys her nephew?s age, she tried to guide him in the right direction.
Marie Fuentes
?I just shock that this happen to Andrew, cause Andrew dah nuh the type. He nuh gang bang, nothing. He woulda hang out right round the neighbour, his friends woulda come over. He dah nuh the type fi seh mek somebody just tek his life. I mean, everybody come from a mother and I know the person who do it di watch right now. And I just want justice done and I just hope that if that happen to the person, their ma feel the same way how I feel.?
