Family Grieves in San Pedro as Killers Slay San Mateo Shopkeeper
Reniery Garcia
There are two murders to report tonight that occurred within fourteen hours of each other; one in San Pedro and the other in Dangriga. We start tonight’s newscast with the execution of a Honduran national on Ambergris Caye on Thursday night in the San Mateo area of that island town. A twenty-five-year-old father of one was shot at point-blank range to the head by one of two men who entered his shop, posing as customers. Within seconds of the shooting, the gunman and his accomplice escaped the area by way of the lagoon. Tonight, there are more questions than answers as police are yet to determine a motive for the slaying of Reniery Garcia, who is described as a person who had no beef with anyone. News Five’s Duane Moody was on the island today and files this report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
A twenty-five-year-old Honduran national was executed on Wednesday night in San Pedro. The father of a four-year-old girl was inside this shop when two men, who posed as customers, entered Dicky’s Store located on the lower flat of this two-storey wooden building. Reports are that one of the men then pulled out a firearm and fired a single shot that caught Reniery Figueroa Garcia in the head. Today, as the family is gripped by the murder of their loved one, Garcia’s aunt, Ubaldina Argenia, says they don’t know why his life was so callously taken.
Voice of: Gualdina Argenia, Aunt of Murder Victim [Translated]
“We don’t know anything. We only know that around eight, he was in his shop working and he was a person that didn’t mess with anyone. He would only be here and upstairs in his house with his daughter. All we know is that we heard a shot while at the church nearby. My son then called me and said that they shot my uncle and they are taking him to the hospital. We reached the hospital before they brought him.”
Police arrived on the scene shortly after to find Garcia’s body seated behind the counter inside the shop. Today, a pair of beladoras and a glass of water marks the spot where the Garcia made his living right up to the moment of his untimely death. After firing the deadly shots, the perpetrators escaped down the street and on a boat on the lagoon, but not before stealing a bicycle from the area.
Voice of: Elsner Pott, Friend of Murder Victim
“I mi di talk to my friends and then when I heard the gunshot, I just hurry come on the next street and see what happen and I see the guys them running. But they left something ina the big house, ina di black one. But from that, they take the curve and dehn gone. They pass by my auntie and thief a bike and they gone by the lagoon and they gone and I no see them again.”
But who would want Garcia dead and why? Police say robbery has been ruled out as a possible motive because no money or anything was stolen. The family and residents in the area are also baffled by the tragedy because Garcia never complained of having problems with anyone.
Voice of: Gualdina Argenia [Translated]
“He didn’t interfere with anyone; he wasn’t a person that was on the street. He didn’t mess with anybody. He lives for his daughter and his wife.”
Duane Moody
“What are the police saying?”
Voice of: Gualdina Argenia [Translated]
“We don’t know anything cause they haven’t said anything to us. We all headed to the hospital as they processed the scene. So we don’t know anything.”
Voice of: Elsner Pott
“I mi know he when I mi fourteen years old and me and he mi like give joke and he is a nice person. I like how he like give joke to everybody and me and he dah friends. But I neva mi know that dehn mi wah kill he.”
Duane Moody
“This has to be a shock right?”
Voice of: Elsner Pott
“Yah…it have to be. But when I hear that they shoot him, I ketch a feelings but I say I can’t do nothing.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
