Man Wanted for Murder of Friend

Andre Vernon

Police are looking for a man who they believe murdered his friend early this morning in Belize City. The incident happened in front of the victim’s home just as he and his girlfriend had arrived. He was reportedly out socializing earlier with the alleged gunman, and things got out of hand. The two became embroiled in an altercation. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Police are looking for a man they say was the gunman in an early morning murder that claimed the life of twenty-one-year-old Andre Vernon. The K.B.H. security guard had reportedly just arrived home on Madam Liz Crescent, where he was gunned down.

Fitzroy Yearwood

A.S.P. Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“Andre Vernon, twenty-one-year-old security guard and his girlfriend arrived at home around two-o-eight a.m., and they were standing in front of their residence when a faded gold in colour Tribute passed them. The vehicle made a turn at the end of the street. The vehicle then came back, and a person exited one of the rear doors of that vehicle and fired several shots at Mr. Vernon, fatally injuring him.”

Communications Director for the Belize Police Department, A.S.P Fitzroy Yearwood, said the vehicle sped off. Vernon died about two hours after being shot. While Yearwood did not delve too much into the circumstances leading to the murder, he did say that police are confident about who the gunman was and indicated that because it was not a gang-related incident, police do not expect any retaliation. Yearwood also had some advice for the gunman, who cannot be located.

Andre Vernon

A.S.P Fitzroy Yearwood

“We know exactly who we are looking for, so for us to rely on surveillance – like I said, we know who we are looking for. It’s an isolated incident, so we don’t expect any of that, but I would like to advise the assailant to come in to the authorities. Why run if you already committed yourself and you know that you were identified by several persons. Make life easier for yourself.”

Vernon’s family, his employers, nor his former school wanted to comment on his murder. Marion Ali for News Five.

This evening police issued this poster, asking the public to help locate this person they believe can assist them in a police investigation. They did not specify why they are looking for thirty-six-year-old Jeffrey Ferguson.