Chinese grocer murdered in Corozal robbery
With the scandal in City Hall dominating the past week’s headlines, the work of Belize’s criminals has gone relatively unnoticed … that is until last night. Once more armed thugs invaded a Chinese owned grocery … and once more, a businessman lay dead. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports from Corozal.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Ji Chen Li better known as ?Sammy? was standing behind his store counter when two armed masked men walked into the establishment and held up the Chinese businessman. Family members tell News Five that the men made no demands, but just grabbed the money from the cash register and valuables and then ruthlessly shot Ji in the left side of his chest. Ji collapsed in his store and died on the spot.
Today, when News Five visited the crime scene the police were at the location gathering information to solve this latest murder. Because Sammy?s Store is situated along the main highway in San Joaquin Village, authorities believe someone may have witnessed the incident. Today, the police are counting on community support to help them catch the killers.
Inps. Marlon Allen, Deputy Formation Cmdr., Corozal Police
?There is a possibility that persons would have been in the area, because it is on the highway. So you probably may have vehicles who may have passed as such, so you may have neighbours who possibly might have some information, but at present that information is not forthcoming.?
It was four years ago that the businessman left Belmopan to settle in the Corozal district and since that time has become well known in San Joaquin. Today there was an eerie calm in the neighbourhood as residents tried to cope with the tragedy.
Inspector Marlon Allen
?In general, a murder as a result of a robbery is of major concern. So it is of a priority that we put the efforts that is necessary to solve this matter because we cannot have our people in fear that they cannot live in a free society. So it is of major importance.?
Inspector Marlon Allen, Deputy Formation Commander for the Corozal police says they have been interviewing a number of suspects but have made no arrests. The murder also highlights another concern of authorities that they say might have made a difference in last night?s incident, which occurred around nine-twenty p.m.
Insp. Marlon Allen
?Well normally these stores by law they should be closed at nine o?clock, nine p.m. at night. Anything outside that hour would be against their trade license as such, to be operating outside business hours. But you know there is the trend in the country of Belize of malpractices right.?
The murder was the first this year for the Corozal district. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
According to the Corozal Chinese Association all Chinese owned business establishments throughout the country will be closed on the day of the funeral service. That date has not yet been determined.
