Tracy Gunned Down in Belize City

Robert Tracy

Blood spilled again this morning in Belize City. So far there have been three execution style murders in six days; the most recent occurred at ten this morning on Wagner’s Lane where twenty-eight year old Robert Tracy was targeted. A single gunshot hit him on the head as he sat on a stool in a yard he has been frequenting. The Holy Emmanuel resident is well-known to the law for his long rap sheet and the many attempts on his life, which he had survived until today when death came knocking. Police are investigating the motive of the murder, but it is likely that Tracy’s past caught up with him this morning. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A single report in the vicinity of Wagner’s Lane sometime around ten o’clock this morning, proved fatal for twenty-eight-year-old Robert Tracy.  Residents say they heard a sharp crack moments before observing Tracy’s prostrate body in a pool of his own blood.  He had been shot once to the head at close range.  While they would not go on record to describe what they saw, witnesses recall seeing Tracy in the neighborhood on several occasions.  Nevertheless, it is apparent that he was quite a distance away from his home on Holy Emmanuel Street when he was expunged by a lone gunman.

Supt. Hilberto Romero, O.C., C.I.B.

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“The information we’ve gathered is that he frequents different areas of the city.  Again, he is from the area of Holy Emmanuel Street and for some reason he was sitting on a stool at Wagner’s Lane inside that yard.  We are working on canvassing the area to see what he was doing in that particular area but like I mentioned he frequents different areas of the city and not one particular area.”

Wang or Bolo, as he is otherwise known, has had numerous brushes with the law for various offenses.  Despite his seemingly catlike ability to escape death in the past, his luck ran out this morning.

Raphael Martinez

Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer

“At about ten o’clock this morning, we have confirmed the identity of the person who was shot.  He is twenty-eight-year-old Robert Austin Tracy of a Holy Emmanuel Street address in the Gungulung area, as it is locally known.  Initial investigations reveal that Tracy was sitting in a yard on Wagner’s Lane when he was approached from behind by a lone assailant who fired one single shot at him causing his fatal injury to the head.”

In the aftermath of the deadly shooting, officers from different branches of the police department descended on the area, including C.I.B. personnel.

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Our detectives are at the scene and they are working on trying to gather information and see if we can solve this case.”

A rather difficult assignment since the neighborhood is well-known for its deafening silence on felonious matters.  Residents would peer out of their windows at the commotion below, but mum is the word as far as any useful information is concerned.  Tracy’s rap sheet, however, speaks volumes of his criminal past.

Raphael Martinez

“Tracy is no stranger to the authorities.  He had quite a lengthy rap sheet, as a matter of fact the last count we had was thirteen and these include burglary, grievous harm, wounding, theft, robbery and the list goes on.  As a matter of fact, he was actually charged and convicted twice for drug possession and I need to mention as well that previous to this he had three attempts on his life; one that occurred on September 4th, 2011 when he was shot to the thigh and buttocks and to the finger.  This happened on Magazine Road.  Then the other incident was on December 19th, 2012.  This time he was shot on Holy Emmanuel Street and this was to his wrist.  The third incident, an attempt on his life was February 15th, 2014 when he was shot to the center of his back on Central American Boulevard.”

An investigation into that incident would later reveal that Tracy was an affiliate of the PIV gang and that his shooting may have been the result of an altercation earlier that night.

File: February 17th, 2014

Supt. Alden Dawson, O.C. Precinct One

Supt. Alden Dawson

“Mister Tracy was walking on Central American Boulevard heading in the direction of Neal Penn Road and upon reaching at the junction of Central American Boulevard and Boots Crescent, he was fired upon. Several shots he heard and realized that he was hit in the back with one of those bullets. The police went on the scene and retrieved six expended nine millimeter shells. Mister Tracy has since been treated and released from the hospital. The investigation is ongoing but so far we believe that it was an incident that stemmed from the nightclub on Newtown barracks earlier the said night.”

Belize City police are investigating the latest homicide; so far however, they are fruitless in their search for a suspect. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.