Botched robbery attempt turns to murder in Orange Walk

Gunshots rang out in Orange Walk Town on Thursday night and within minutes, a ninth victim was added to the growing list of homicides since the year began.  Baldemar Moguel was shot and killed in his store and in front of his wife just as they were preparing to retire for the night. A young girl was also in the supermarket but managed to get away as the bloody incident unfolded. The two gunmen fled in a car parked nearby. News Five’s Duane Moody traveled north and files this report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Minutes before eight o’clock, two persons pounced into the D and J Supermarket.  And within five minutes, the proprietor, fifty-three year old Baldemar Moguel was dead. Police say the murder appears to have been motivated by a robbery that was foiled.

Inspector Selvin Tillett, Deputy O.C., Orange Walk Police

“At this moment police is investigating because nothing was stolen from the store. Police are investigating motive for this silly murder.”

At the time, a little girl was had just ordered Purina chow. According to Moguel’s wife, Cristina, who was too traumatized to appear on camera, when the minor dashed out the store, she saw one of the culprits pull the trigger on her husband. She ran to his aid and the gunman turned on her. But the gun snapped twice and the two fled the store and got into a red Toyota getaway car. Police on patrol in the area responded swiftly but Baldemar was already dead.

Insp. Selvin Tillett

Inspector Selvin Tillett

“Mr. Baldemar Moguel, fifty-three years Belizean businessman was found lying behind his store counter suffering what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the centre of his neck, to the center of his chest, right side of abdomen and right hand. Initial investigations reveal that around seven-fifty p.m., Mister Moguel was standing behind his counter when two dark complexion male persons entered his store, one dressed in red shirt and the other with white shirt. On his return, the one with the red shirt pointed a handgun on Mister Moguel and shot him repeatedly. The body was transported to Northern Regional Hospital where Mister Moguel was pronounced dead on arrival. Information reveals that these culprits made off in a red Toyota corolla taxi, which police have impounded and we have it on police compound at this moment.”

Neighbors say they heard the commotion and Luis Trujillo thought it was the sound of dynamite.

Luis Trujillo, Neighbor

“I heard three shots; pow, pow, pow so I thought it was palomita or something. So I went out and I saw the body on the store when the lady told me they shot her husband. I went on the counter and I saw him there lying down. I saw him without life again. When the ambulance came, they said he kinda still had life inna him.”

Voice of Neighbor

“I mi deh inna my bed di lay down di put di my baby to sleep and sudden one we just hear like somebody di lash or di beat something. My husband come out and gone by di shop yah and wah next man weh mi deh out yah seh hmm dehn just shoot Moguel. So my husband gone cross dah di shop and dah deh Mister Moguel mi deh fi true pan di ground di lay down because dehn mi just shoot ah inna ih head.”

The murder has stunned the neighborhood and many are in fear.

Mark Trujillo

Luis Trujillo

“Dah something weh no usually happen around here. We always deh in peace and all of a sudden dat come up.”

Duane Moody

“Does this have you guys in fear because you wouldn’t have thought that something like this would happen so close?”

Luis Trujillo

“No, so close my house, no man.”

Duane Moody

“Is this the first time that something like this has happened in the area?”

Voice of Neighbor

“Yes, first time.”

Duane Moody

“But why would someone want to kill Mister Moguel?”

Voice of Neighbor

“We noh know because he dah wah alright person and he noh have nothing wid nobody. My husband done tell me already as night di come, you try lock up deh inside and watch TV wid di kids. My lee daughter mi just left from di shop from buy typing sheets.  So like dat ih mek yoh worry more.”

The police department is retrieving data from a surveillance camera that may have captured images of the culprits.

Inspector Selvin Tillett

“At this moment we are working on that but it seems that the surveillance cameras, I don’t know if it has anything recorded. But as we speak, we are looking at that angle also.”

Duane Moody

“Any persons have been detained by police for questioning or anything of that sort?”

Inspector Selvin Tillett

“We are looking for three persons of interest which we believe can assist us in this investigation.”

It is strongly believed that the culprits are not from Orange Walk and that they were monitoring the business. Duane Moody, reporting for News Five.

Two persons are being held in police custody.