Suspected burglar shot dead by King’s Park resident
With a society that appears to be growing ever more violent it was only a matter of time until a suspected criminal himself became a victim. And that’s what happened over the weekend with fatal results. News Five’s Jacqueline Woods has more.
Carolyn Copious, Mother of the Deceased
“I feel terrible because he dah my only son and now I noh wah feel whole again. I now know when I wah feel whole, but noh care how much money, he can’t come back, so better I just put him down and make him rest.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
There are far more questions than answers in the shooting death of twenty-three year old Shawn Copious. Police say around three thirty on Saturday morning Belize City businessman thirty-year-old Ben Bou-Nahra arrived at his residence when he was approached by Copious. It is not certain what transpired, but Bou-Nahra told authorities that as he was trying to find out what the young man wanted he alleges Copious approached him in a menacing manner and he had no choice but to pull out his licensed nine-millimetre pistol and fired several shots.
Lawrence Mejia, Stepfather of the Deceased
“The policeman told me that my stepson was found in this man?s yard and the man asked him what he doing in the yard. He say my son haul something out ah his pocket like a knife and the man fire five rounds and one round ketch ah fatally.”
Police say based on their preliminary investigation, they believe Copious, who is no stranger to law enforcement, went to the home with the intention to rob. Reports are that as Bou-Nahra pulled up outside of his residence, he observed a young man trying to break into one of the vehicles that was parked in the front yard. Copious, who is believed to have been shot either inside or just outside of the compound, managed to run a short distance and collapsed several houses away on Lottie Waight Street. One of his slippers was found in Bou-Nahra?s front yard. Mejia says when he viewed his stepson?s body he strongly suspects he may have also been beaten.
Lawrence Mejia
“When we get in there, the condition that I meet my stepson, that is not only a shot, that was beating and shot because my stepson whole ah his teeth yah bust out, blood di run all through his mouth, crazy blood on the ground. His nose and all his hands them got brutalised and I suspect right away it’s not only a shot ketch him; he was beaten then shot.”
“I am not accusing anybody of beating my stepson; I am saying that I suspect that my stepson was beaten before shot. But I am not giving a confirm until the autopsy show and confirm to the people that he was beaten.”
That post-mortem is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Although Copious’ mother and stepfather are grieving, they explain why they have no intention to press charges against the man who killed their son.
Lawrence Mejia
“This man is a really good man. I like his ways. He show me proof that he sorry what went on, he sorry?he know my son was in the yard, he said di haul thing and then the gunshot, but he said he noh want to hear that, he said he know that my son died and he noh like it and he decide to help we as much as he can.”
“The man say in a good heart, don’t worry, I will come down and I will assist with the body and I will give you the money that you need. And you, the mother of the child, I willing to give you something to start on because I know it’s you’re only child. The man nevah di harass we, he nevah tell we nothing, and I decide me and my wife to go along with the programme because we need the money to bury my stepson.”
Following the shooting Bou-Nahra was detained but has since been released. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
Police say that Copious was armed with a kitchen cleaver. The case file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who will decide whether or not any charges should be brought against Bou-Nahra.
