Jesus Ponce murdered while being a hero

Heroically he attempted to avert a robbery at the store of one of his friends in the west. But his good intentions cost him his life. And it is believed that the perpetrator of the most recent murder of Jesus Ponce is a Guatemalan national from neighbouring Melchor identified as twenty-two year old, Francisco De Jesus Garcia who remains at large. Jose Sanchez headed west today and has this report.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Several gunshots rang out during what should have been a quiet Monday night in Benque Viejo Del Carmen. Thirty-six year old Jesus Ponce was murdered during a robbery at Rosy’s Store at the corner of Baron Bliss and St. Joseph Street. The store is owned by fifty nine year old Abel Silva. His granddaughter was at his side when the events unfolded.

Teresita Juan, Robbery Victim
“Well,I was standing behind my grandfather. When I looked up and I saw Chush was sitting down outside the store. The man came up to him, beside him and I saw that they looked at each other but what I didn’t see is if he told him something but then Chush got up, he walked into his store and then man followed him behind. Then suddenly, he took out the gun and he said everyone on the ground. My grandpa get on the ground and I stood there shocked, I could move, I could even talk and then he was asking “where is the money, where is the money?” and my grandpa told me give him the money, so I bent over the count and I got, I guess about twenty-five dollars and then he just yanked out of me hand. He jumped over the counter and he searched—he searched the counter for more money or whatever but all I guess he took was about thirty dollars. Chush had a rifle, he found my grandfather’s rifle and—but the security was on, so he–the man felt threatened or something so he started to shoot.”

Teresita’s mother, Rosa Elena, entered the store as the robbery was in progress.

Rosa Elena Juan
“I turned and look and saw the guy jumping the desk. And when I saw he went with the gun and point at my dad and then my dad was shouting “please don’t shoot, please don’t shoot” and then I forget that Jesus but before that Jesus was cranking the rifle to shoot but it had a safety on it.”

Teresita Juan
“Before he shot I hid behind the refrigerator, I turned because I was afraid and then I looked over I peeped and I saw sparks coming out of the gun. He shot about—I heard about four or five times shooting and I was scared. The first time I heard the shot I thought my grandpa was hit and then afterward when I looked there was blood all over the ground and he was—well, he looked dead but he was moaning and he looked like he was breathing.”

According to Superintendent Dezerie Phillips, Officer in Charge of Benque Police, Ponce was shot five times.

Supt. Dezerie Phillips, O.C., Benque Police
“He opened fire at Ponce, hitting him several times under the right eye, the chest, and on the right arm and the left leg. He thereafter left the store. Ponce was rushed to the San Ignacio Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body now awaits a postmortem examination.”

A candle burns on the spot that Jesus “Chush” Ponce, fell during his heroic act. Ponce leaves behind one brother and five sisters. He lived three blocks away on George Street with his mother Juana, who says he was a good person.

Juana Ponce, Mother of Murder Victim
“He was friendly with everyone and he would always tell me he would give his life to save his family.”

Teresita Juan
“He was a great friend. He used to always be here outside before they closed and everything. He used to help around when we needed something. He use to help around.”

Jose Sanchez
“He was a good person.”

Teresita Juan
“Yeah… yes.”

Jose Sanchez
“What do you think is needed around this area to protect the business community?”

Rosa Elena Juan
“Well there is a need for a lot of patrol. The police need to protect more of the Belizean business, the Belizean people.”

Jose Sanchez
“Do you have any suspects?”

Supt. Dezirie Phillips
“We have a person we’re seeking who we believe might be of assistance to us for this investigation. He’s a Guatemalan national who we believe is living over in Melchor.”

Jose Sanchez
“And the culprit, has anyone ever see him before in this area?”

Rosa Elena Juan
“No, we haven’t’ seen him before. Really I didn’t see his face much, I just saw that he had a long face with big nose. I saw that he had just a white shirt but I really don’t know exactly. I didn’t focus good on him. My daughter saw him better than me.”

Jose Sanchez
Do you think some of the crime being committed in the area are people coming from Melchor to this side and then going back?

Rosa Elena Juan
“Yes. People from Melchor, they are always doing those things.”

Supt. Dezirie Phillips
“There have been a few instances recently of Belizeans being murdered over the Melchor side of the border is it a concern for Belizeans at this point visiting that Town?

Supt. Dezirie Phillips
“Well I wouldn’t say—from the police point of view, I can speak yes it is a concern for us and we have been in dialogue with the Melchor police and the authorities over there. We have good working relationship and we have been assured by the Melchor police that these incidences are no way connected to each other, they are isolated incidents but to tell what the motive are for these incidents over in Melchor, I wouldn’t be able to say that at this time.”

Jose Sanchez
“Would it be easy then if they would apprehend the suspect they have in return to you or are there diplomatic channels you have to go through?”

Supt. Dezirie Phillips
“Well we have established, like I said a very close relationship and in this case in particular, we have already liaisoned them. We have provided them with the name of the person we’re looking for and they have assured us that they will be searching for this person and once he is found he will be handed over to us.”

Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.