Security Guard in Murdered; Firearm Stolen
Two murders were recorded over the weekend, in Santa Elena Town in the west and in Punta Gorda to the south. In today’s broadcast of criminal activities over the weekend, we begin with the murder of a retired B.D.F. soldier, who while working on duty as a security guard was killed and robbed of his firearm. The entire incident was caught on surveillance footage that was leaked on social media. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The cold-blooded murder of fifty-seven-year-old Lionel Olivera Senior was caught on surveillance camera outside Cayo One Stop Hardware Store on the George Price Highway in Santa Elena Town. There is where the former B.D.F. soldier worked for the past three to four years. But on the night of April twenty-third, two men came up to him, and fired a single shot at close range. He is then thrown to the ground and robbed of the company-issued firearm he carried.
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“He was quickly rushed to the San Ignacio Community Hospital by officers but he died whilst undergoing treatment. What the police know so far is that shortly before 10:30 p.m., Olivera was on duty for a security company when he was approached by two male persons, one of whom was dressed in a blue long-sleeved shirt. Upon approaching him, one of those persons fired upon him and obviously the reason for him being approached is because they wanted to get a hold of the firearm he was in possession of.”
The news came as a shock to the family because Olivera Senior was an upstanding, law-abiding citizen who was targeted by armed thieves.
Lourdes Codd, Niece of Deceased
“It was a sad moment for me because I found out the following morning. It is a good thing I already had breakfast when I find out cause as a diabetic patient, I can’t take that. They had a different title and I thought it was my other cousin because they had Oliver and then my husband said, give me the phone and when he searched, he said it is your uncle for true. It was a sad moment for me because he is not a person that have enemy with no one. He had only three more years to work. I would always say to him, “Uncle why do you want to do security? You already retired from the B.D.F. Security is very scary.” And he would say to my husband, “Bwai, I get a new job. Why don’t you come?” My husband said, “I retired from security, I don’t want to go back to security.” But that’s what he loved, that was his dream to always be working for his own.”
Several persons have been detained within the last forty-eight hours as investigation continues into this latest homicide in the West. While the surveillance footage captures the crime, the clothing they wore was discarded following the murder.
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Yesterday, some clothing was found in the Bradley’s Bank area of Santa Elena Town which we believe was used by one of those persons who had approached the deceased. At this point in time we are looking for several suspects in relation to this investigation.”
For Lourdes, the killing of her uncle opens old wounds.
Lourdes Codd
“It’s like a new reminder to me of what I have been through. I lost two by killing. One I faced it and now well this one I neva face it, but it brings back lot of memories. To an innocent old man.”
Duane Moody for News Five.