Well known local cyclist loses brother to street violence

In another homicide, the brother of a cycling champion was slain on Sunday night in Belize City. Thirty-six year old Ellis “Peppa Gacho,” Meighan, was murdered near his home by a lone gunman. Ellis, a resident of Banak Street, was across the Central American Boulevard and was standing near a lamp post when his assailant rode up on a bicycle and shot him once to the back of the head. His brother, local cycling legend, Ernest “Jawmain” Meighan, says that Ellis had his share of trouble with the law, but he was keeping the peace for the past year. Meighan says that his family believes the killing may have been motivated in retaliation for some past incident. Jaw Meighan spoke to News Five today and recounted that his brother was a natural athlete who was lead astray.

Ernest “Jawmain” Meighan, Brother of Murder Victim
“My bredda, Ellis, I could rememba one race, wah Belmopan Cycling Classic. I think dah 1992 or 1993 when he placed third. He actually beat me; I come in fifth. I realized weh kinda talent he have when I si di talent eena he. Ih got ih different friends weh put ah astray and ih got different friends from me. My friends different from fi he friends and ih just lead to the wrong way.”

Jose Sanchez
“Do you think his murder was the result of something maybe he was involved with, something he did in the past?”

Ernest “Jawmain” Meighan
“Dah part deh I cant seh but I think dah wah retaliation eena di family. I would ah seh dah like dehn di send wah message and I think dah like wid my bredda he dah somebody weh noh deserve dis. Di past, dat done gone and ih done ih thing and from since wah year and change ih noh get eena no problems and all of a sudden dis happen. I noh know.”

Jose Sanchez
“When you seh retaliation eena di family, you think ih could be wah family member?”

Ernest “Jawmain” Meighan
“I think dah like wah family thing. I noh know weh fi seh but if yoh can’t ketch Harry, ketch ih shirt right. And dis dah weh I di seh. I di seh I noh think my bredda mi deserve dis.”

Jose Sanchez
“Exactly what the police said happened? What is the information that they said happened last night?”

Ernest “Jawmain” Meighan
“Well, as soon as I get the phone call, I talk to one ah di police dehn and dehn tell me dat dehn mi di expect wah retaliation long time but dehn nevah expect ih mi wah be so long and ih just happen last night.”

No one has been arrested for the murder of Ellis Meighan. Family members say his funeral services will be held on Friday.