Cayo resident is killed overnight in Kontiki Area of San Ignacio
Fredy Lopez Sr.
San Ignacio Police have launched a intense manhunt for two men in connection with a murder in the Kontiki Area on Monday night. Fifty-six-year-old Fredy Lopez Sr. was gunned down as he walked with his family on a dark street. Authorities say robbery was the motive, and the men being sought are believed to be responsible for a string of robberies being committed since the beginning of the month. The men are armed and dangerous and are allegedly operating in the Shawville Area, Kontiki Area, Collins Boulevard Area, San Ignacio Town and Bullet Tree Village. But while Police are on the hunt, a family has lost the man who was their foundation to senseless violence. Mike Rudon was in San Ignacio this morning and has the story.
Mike Rudon, Reporting
This section of road in the Kontiki Area is where fifty-six year old Fredy Lopez was gunned down last night. Lopez, along with his wife, was walking his daughter-in-law and two grandchildren home, with tamales they had just made. But as they reached this area just minutes from their destination two masked men attacked them. They grabbed Lopez’s wife and when he defended her he was shot once in the chest and fell right in front of his two grandchildren.
Reymundo Reyes
Insp. Reymundo Reyes, Deputy O.C., San Ignacio Police Formation
“As they approached the vicinity of the primary school, Arms of Love, they were approached from behind by two male persons wearing rags over their faces. One of the male persons hold the wife of Mister Fredy Lopez and demanded for them to hand over what they have; their properties. That same period of time, the gentleman bent over to pick up a piece of stone and that was when he was shot on the right side of the chest and the bullet exit on the lower back portion of the back.”
Fredy Lopez Jr., Son of Murdered Victim
“My two daughters were along and my girlfriend what he did he just thrown ahn down pan ih gun and that dah when dehn escape. But my wife tell ahn, we noh got nothing, we noh got money; we noh got no kind of money. We only got tamales just take it; just leave us alone. But dehn shoot ahn on his chest. After dehn shoot ahn, my wife say dehn just run ina di bush. It was so fast. He noh interfere with no one. All the neighbors could tell you everything about him; he noh interfere with no one.”
The men ran when Lopez fell, but he did not die on the spot. Police were on patrol in the area, responded quickly and rushed him to the hospital. One hour after, Lopez succumbed to his injuries while being treated. Although the men were masked Police were given details which match those of two men being sought for other robberies – Kevin Manzanero and Alex Reid.
Insp. Reymundo Reyes
“Both persons, especially for this month, we have had over nine robberies which the description given by the victims are that of the same two persons committing the crime in four different occasions including a robbery yesterday on one of the buses in the Succotz area. The person discharged his weapon and when you visit the scene, what is found is that of an expended shell of a point forty-five caliber.”
Reporter
“Is it a same caliber bullet that killed the gentleman?”
Insp. Reymundo Reyes
“Yes the same type. We have myself and this young, we are in this area. We have other police officers in the surrounding areas of San Ignacio trying to make checks in abandoned houses, questioning people if they have been seen or so forth. We have an intensive manhunt right now for them.”
But whether the Police find the two men or not, there is no consoling the family of Fredy Lopez Sr. He would have turned fifty-seven on Christmas Day, and now a time of celebration has turned into a time of mourning.
Fredy Lopez Jr.
Fredy Lopez Jr.
“This is not a Christmas for us anymore. And tomorrow is his birthday. Tomorrow is his birthday and that is the saddest part you know because he noh interfere with no one. Those youths out there; why they have to deh the do den yah simpleness out ya. He was a good father, good grandfather too as well; good husband. He teach me the best; thanks to him I have a good job, a good education. (Crying)”
Mike Rudon for News Five.
Anyone with information which can assist Police to locate Kevin Manzanero or Alex Reid is asked to call the nearest Police Station.
