Ex-B.D.F. Soldier Killed on Valentine’s Day
Denver Jones
A former B.D.F. soldier was likely lured to his death on Valentine’s Day. Denver Jones was murdered after nine o’clock on Saturday night in an area that he was known to frequent in Ladyville, Belize District. Jones, who was once linked to a missing firearm from the B.D.F. armory, was shot once to the face. He and three friends set out to the isolated area, but even as the trio was in his parked car, police arrived on the scene to find his body. Duane Moody went looking for answers and has the following report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The blood stains on this feeder road that adjoins Marage Road and the Lake Gardens Community marks the spot where police discovered the body of Denver Jones. Around nine-thirty p.m. on Valentine’s Day, police were called out to the area where his body was found lying face up on the ground. He was shot once to the left cheek.
Supt. Hilberto Romero, O.C., C.I.B., Eastern Division Police
“Police visited an area off Marage Road, a road leading into the Lake Garden area where they saw the lifeless body of Denver Jones, twenty-nine years with a gunshot wound to the head apparently dead. Investigation reveals so far that he went to that area in his car and he went into the road that he was found which is a dark area. Later his body was found there. In the car there were three other persons that went along with him to that particular area.”
But was the Hattieville resident lured to his death? Reports are that Jones received a phone call and he, along with three other persons, drove to the area where he was to meet up with someone. He parked his vehicle on Marage Road and walked about a hundred yards away on the feeder and into the dark. As his friends waited, police arrived to find Jones dead.
Hilberto Romero
Supt. Hilberto Romero
“These persons were actually found near the car.”
Reporter
“Can you say if any of them are…”
Supt. Hilberto Romero
“They are being interviewed at this time and statements are being recorded to determine.”
Duane Moody
“Sir, a motive behind this murder?”
Supt. Hilberto Romero
“We have no motive at this time. Again he went through that area saying that he was going to drop off some money for someone and he went by himself and thereafter his body was found in that area.”
Duane Moody
“Sir we understand that he received a phone call prior to him being killed. Is it believed that he was lured to that area?”
Supt. Hilberto Romero
“Again, that is an isolated area and we are looking at all angles to see if he was lured there or that is an area that he frequents.”
Reporter
“So he parks here and then he walks to go meet this person?”
Supt. Hilberto Romero
“That is correct. He walked into that dark area and apparently that is where the shooting occurred in the dark area on the road.”
Reporter
“Would that indicate that there was some kind of illicit business since that area was very dark?”
Supt. Hilberto Romero
“Well like I said, we are looking at all angles of it. He went there…he was supposed to come to Belize City thereafter. So he went there on his own and something transpired there and as a result he was shot.”
Jones is no stranger to police. The former B.D.F. soldier was discharged from the force after a high powered M-four carbine rifle went missing from the armory at Price Barracks. He was also recently charged for a shooting in Ladyville. There is still no motive, however, for the first murder for that jurisdiction.
Supt. Hilberto Romero
“That’s an angle that we are looking at. We’ll review the file to see who these persons were. Yes, he had been charged for that shooting incident that occurred in Ladyville.”
Duane Moody
“Sir, we have information that he had made a report to police that his life had been threatened prior to this incident. Can you confirm this?”
Supt. Hilberto Romero
“I am not aware of any report that he made regarding any threat, but I can recheck to see if any such report was made.”
The three persons that were found inside the car have since been detained for questioning. Duane Moody for News Five.
