No Official Motive for Murder of ‘JawMeighan’

Ernest “JawMeighan” Meighan

As anger continues to build, police have spoken for the first time since Saturday’s shocking execution of the sporting legend, Ernest “JawMeighan” Meighan. But they have still not been able to crack the case as to why the beloved cyclist was murdered. Was it related to the fatal stabbing of Chryslin Gladden or the murder of Raheem Crawford which happened on Saturday? Theories abound and several persons have been questioned but still no arrests. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

With the nation still reeling from the death of one of its prized athletes, the Belize Police Department has its job cut out, solving the grisly murder of Ernest ‘JawMeighan‘ Meighan.  The accomplished cyclist was shot and killed on Saturday, shortly before midday, while visiting his children at their home on George Street.  Upon leaving to purchase a bottle of purified water for the family, JawMeighan was shot once to the back of the head at close range.

This afternoon, Superintendent Hilberto Romero, lead investigator in the case, broke the silence of the department.

Hilberto Romero

Supt. Hilberto Romero, O.C., Crimes Investigation Branch

“So far, we have conducted several interviews.  We’ve detained some persons and we are working on this case vigorously.  At this moment we cannot ascertain a motive, we have several theories that we are following up on.”

Those theories include the notion that the murder of Ernest Meighan may have been retribution for either of two murders preceding the fatal shooting.  In fact, a police report issued on Monday states that the homicide was retaliatory, after identifying Meighan’s seventeen-year-old daughter as one of two persons charged with the murder of Chryslin Gladden.

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Based on the intelligence that we are getting from the streets, interviews that are being conducted, that is one of the theories that we are following up on.”

Since the incident three days ago, mum has been the word on the street and police are having a hard time cracking the case.

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Again, the area where this incident occurred, at first we had some difficulty but again, like I said, our investigators are out there and information is coming in.  But again, we would ask the public for their assistance, whatever information they have they can pass it on to us.”

Santiago Castillo Jr., Former Employer/Mentor of Ernest Meighan [File: August 11^th, 2014]

Santiago Castillo Jr.

“I know that he had gotten threats because he told me that there were threats out on both his life and the mother of the child, Marinette, and some of us told him that, you know, he should lay low but he basically told us that he have wahn life fu live and he noh feel he wahn punish fi something that he had no connection with. I believe that the reason JawMeighan went in that truck that day instead of the cycle is precisely to not be too exposed but even that didn’t help. And what is ironic is that the truck that JawMeighan has is the one that he purchased from Marlon Castillo which is the same truck that another cyclist of mine, Ariel Rosado, died in.”

Isani Cayetano

“It has been said in the public that it was no secret that his life and that of his common-law came under threat in the wake of Chryslin Gladden’s death.  I gather that that or those threats weren’t reported to the police.  In terms of your investigation, would you be either requesting the phones or whatsoever in which the text messages came?”

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Well, those threats were never reported to the police as far as I am concerned.  But again, that is a part of this investigation at this time.  We’ll review all the information that we have and if we need to get further information based on those threats then that will be done.”

It is believed that the gunman, described as a teenager, had been lurking in the vicinity prior to the shooting incident on Saturday and may have been initially uncertain which of the residences along that stretch was the home JawMeighan frequented. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.