Back-a-Town Crips Gang Boss and Associate Killed in Orange Walk
Junior Triminio
A double murder has shaken the Orange Walk community. Tonight the leader of the Back-a-Town Crips Gang, thirty-four-year-old Junior Triminio and nineteen-year-old Christopher Calderon, believed to be Triminio’s associate, are dead. Both men were fatally shot on Sunday evening at around five-twenty by a man who was wearing a ski mask. The brazen double homicide unfolded in front of many persons on Zericote Street, just outside the Louisiana football field where an under-fifteen football championship was taking place. At least sixteen shots were fired. Triminio was shot seven times while Calderon was shot six times. Triminio died while being taken to the Northern Regional Hospital. Calderon died while receiving treatment. Since he is a known gang leader, there are concerns that Triminio’s murder can trigger retaliation. News Five was first on the scene on Sunday and today Hipolito Novelo was in Orange Walk Town looking for answers.
Christopher Calderon
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
First on the scene; News Five captured the chaos that followed the fatal shooting of two men – one of which was the notorious leader of Backa Town Crips Gang. The brazen double murder happened at around five-twenty on Sunday evening on Zericote Street. Seconds before they were killed, thirty four year old Crips Gang boss Junior Triminio and nineteen year old Christopher Calderon had exited the Louisiana football field where a football championship had culminated. Soon after, more than a dozen gunshots were heard.
Kevin Bernard
Kevin Bernard, Mayor of Orange Walk Town
“But the persons next to me said that was not fireworks. He said that it sounded like gunshots and then we heard another set of gunshots rang out. People who were sitting on the fence started to scramble. People ran out from the field out into the streets.”
Hipolito Novelo
“How many gunshots did you hear?”
Kevin Bernard
“There was quite amount of shots. I can tell you, I believe almost fifteen shots in total that we heard because there was a huge bang first, a pause and then another set of shots rang out.”
Chaos followed. Calderon lay bleeding on a resident’s lawn. His friends quickly carried him inside a car and rushed him off to the Northern Regional Hospital. A few minutes later, persons at the scene realized that there was a second victim. Triminio had also been shot several times. He was losing a lot of blood and fast. His friends, at least seven of them, struggled as they carried him to a pickup truck for transportation to the hospital. Minutes after, a police unit arrived. Triminio is then placed in the police pickup pan, taking his last few breaths. He would later be pronounced dead on arrival at the NRH.
Joseph Myvett
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“Both deceased persons were socializing with a group of other persons sometime around five twenty p.m. when a white jeep approached the area and a male person exited the Jeep who was armed with a handgun and wearing a ski mask and begun firing rounds into the crowd. As a result both persons were injured and they ran into a nearby yard in an attempt to escape but were followed by the shooter who continued shooting. Thereafter, he made good his escape in the same white jeep that he had arrived in.”
At the scene, investigators found sixteen expended shells. Triminio was shot a total of seven times to the body and head. Calderon was shot six times, also to the body and head. Triminio, for the locals and authorities, is a known gang figure. He had many enemies. But who was brave enough to kill him and his associate in front of many?
ACP Joseph Myvett
“We do not know but we know for certain that Mr. Triminio had several cases of drug trafficking before the courts. We know that he does associate with a group of persons who we consider to be gangs. Well we believe that he was the target. We cannot say that we are satisfied that he was the target but yes we believe that he was the target.”
Triminio’s family declined comment. On the other hand, Calderon’s family is speaking out to clarify that Calderon was at the wrong place, at the wrong time with the wrong people.
Voice of: Cousin of Christopher Calderon
“He meant everything to us. He was not a bad guy. He was never in trouble, giving us a hard time, no police and no trouble.”
Hipolito Novelo
“He never came to you and told you about a problem with a person?”
Voice of: Cousin of Christopher Calderon
“No he never did. He used to go to my house. He has my little sister who he helps him with homework. After homework he would go home. He has so many friends. Everyone knows him to be calm. He barely speaks, only with his smile. Thanks to everyone. I don’t know that he did anything wrong. He was not part of any gang like what people say. We know him from small. We did not know he knew the other person who died.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Is the family thinking that it was wrong place, wrong time, wrong people?”
Voice of: Cousin of Christopher Calderon
“Exactly. Wrong place, wrong time and wrong people. I know he was not a target. I know he was not the target.”
The killer was after Triminio. Authorities are expecting that Triminio’s murder will further fuel a gang war in Orange Walk Town. Elodio Aragon Jr., Minister of State for National Security, says measures are being put in place to address the matter.
Elodio Aragon Jr.
Elodio Aragon Jr., Minister of State, National Security
“When you look at the scene it was obviously a hit. Somebody went out there to make that hit and it is so sad. I just had a meeting this morning in Belmopan and one of the things is to look at what we will do with regards to these incidents. Especially this incident that h as occurred in Orange Walk because if you look at it, it is more than just one incident. I believe that in this country we must target these people who are involved in criminal activities. At the end of the day, it is so sad but it is a lesson that we must all learn as a community; if you live by the gun, you die by the gun.”
It is difficult, however, to say if any police efforts would prevent any sort of retaliation.
Friend of Junior Triminio
“Video this! [Bleep] If you see this [Bleep] don’t let I meet you because I will ‘wrench’ it in you!”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
Investigators have no suspect or any leads. They have not found the getaway car used to commit the brazen crime. Calderon recently moved Orange Walk Town to live with his grandmother; he was scheduled to return to Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College on Tuesday.
