Lionel Budna is the First Murder Victim of 2023
Lionel Budna
It’s only the third day of the New Year and two murders have been recorded already. They occurred within twenty-four hours of each other with the most recent taking place during the wee small hours today. We have that story coming up shortly, but we go to the first murder of 2023, which occurred just minutes into the New Year on Central American Boulevard in Belize City. Lionel Budna was executed a few yards from his house.
Duane Moody
Duane Moody (Stand Up)
“This is the spot where twenty-four-year-old Lionel Budna collapsed after being shot twice, just a stone’s throw away from his home right down the street on Central American Boulevard. His death would be the first murder for 2023.”
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Budna was killed on New Year’s morning on Central American Boulevard near its junction with Fabers Road. He was out there with some friends when gunmen came from out of the Muslim school compound and opened fire at him. He was taken to the hospital and again, he was pronounced dead on arrival.”
The family got the dreaded call of the shooting while ringing in the New Year during the activities held at Digi Park.
Prunella White
Prunella White, Relative of Deceased
“Me and ih sister and my niece and my son, we went to the park to watch the fireworks. They mi have my phone and ih sister bring the phone to me and ask me if this dah real. I read it myself and my hand shake. So I gone ina di bathroom out of the noise and my daughter call me and tell me mommy, dehn just shot ‘onel, one shot to ih heart. When I reach pan the crime scene, same Mapp Street shirt from weh ih get that job deh. I see ahn lay out on the ground without – I noh know how fu say it or how to explain. It just hurt me fu see, when I hear this, when I see ahn down deh. He get two shots. One under his armpit, weh penetrate pass and one weh lef ina ih head yah so weh kill ahn, weh left the bullet ina ih head.”
Budna worked in the food and beverage industry and was not known to be a troublemaker. Prunella White says that the family is puzzled as to why anyone would have wanted him dead.
Prunella White
“I noh know if dah mi trigger happy dehn trigger happy fu be the first one weh kill something. And I know dehn know that Mapp Street shirt, dehn know dah young man; dehn know that bike weh dah young man di ride. So I noh know dah what. I just want know and I want justice to say why dehn kill ahn. Why?”
Police believe that Budna’s shooting was gang-related.
Chester Williams
“We believe that Budna and Martinez’s shootings are gang-related.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
