Paraiso Man Killed By Friends
Alberto Briceño
There have been four murders in the Corozal District this year, but that count went up to five as a result of a stabbing on Saturday night when a village dance was taking place in Paraiso. Twenty-two-year-old Alberto Briceño was stabbed multiple times by a pair of siblings who were known to be his friends. Briceño succumbed at the Corozal Community Hospital minutes after he was attacked with a knife. Police have since detained Adan and Raul Mesa. The abrupt end to his life has left the Briceño family to grieve. Duane Moody has a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Near this monument at the Baltazar Vasquez Park in the heart of Paraiso Village, Corozal is where the fifth murder for 2015 in that village would take place. It is not known how twenty-two year old Alberto Briceño was stabbed multiple times to the wrist, chest and back and killed by a pair of brothers some four feet away from where villagers socialized at a dance in the same park. What’s even worse is that Alberto knew his attackers.
Dennis Arnold
Supt. Dennis Arnold, O.C., Corozal Police
“At about nine-forty-seven p.m., police were called out to the Corozal Community Hospital where upon arrival saw a male Hispanic person with what appears to be multiple stab wound to his body. His name was learnt to be Alberto Briceño, twenty-two years of Paraiso Village. About twenty-five minutes later, he succumbed to his injuries. Police initial investigation reveals that Briceño was socializing at Paraiso Park where he got into an altercation with two brothers. A fight ensued and one of the brothers introduced a knife into the fight and inflict stab wounds to Briceño.”
Police say that they are still investigating what led to the altercation and subsequent stabbing of Alberto because they were all friends and one of the brothers was hanging out with the victim at his house less than an hour before the incident occurred. Carmita Mendez, a neighbor, stood less than one hundred yards away from where the stabbing took place. She says that Alberto jokingly pushed twenty year old Raul Mesa on the shoulder, but he fell and that infuriated the brothers. Raul’s older brother, twenty-nine year old Adan Mesa started beating on Alberto before taking out a knife and inflicting the fatal stabs.
Cruzita Mendez, Witnessed Murder (Translated)
“I was standing at the door of the clinic when I saw the guy pass by to go and buy a drink. He jumped the wall of the park to go where the two friends were. When Alberto reached, he simply tipped Raul on the chest, but Raul lost his balance and fell on the ground. He got up and Alberto, who goes by the name Coco, continued on his way. Raul’s brother then came and started to fight with Coco. Coco got up and continued towards his house, but the guy continued beating on him and when Alberto fell on the ground again and wasn’t moving. He then took out something from his pants and started to stab.”
Mendez ran to the chairman of the village for help, but to no avail.
Adan & Raul Mesa
Cruzita Mendez (Translated)
“I ran for help by where they were selling because at a dance, there should be police. I asked the chairman, where is the police? There are stabbing a guy over there, where is the police? The chairman just stood there and watch me in the face like I was crazy. He was not interested in what was happening. I have all rights to say it because I am a mother and it hurts me what happened because I saw what happen. If this would have happened to my son, I would have taken matters into my own hands as well because it hard to have seen what they did. When I return, the guy was on the ground to the side.”
It is a most traumatic experience for the Briceño family because Coco, as he was affectionately known, was no trouble maker and he was killed just a few yards from the house. His mother says she ran to his aid, but Alberto collapsed in her arms. He was rushed to the Corozal Community Hospital, but died minutes later. Sister, Sheida Briceño, says that Alberto was stabbed multiple times right in front of her.
Sheida Briceño, Sister of Deceased (Translated)
“He pushed my brother to the ground. And I asked, “What happen here?” And he just stared at me and said nothing. He then started to stab my brother with a knife. And I ran for someone for help, but nobody helped my brother. And then I ran home to my mother what happened, while everybody just stood there and watch how they killed my brother. It was so bloody and everybody just watched. It was the brother of Raul Meza. And Raul just stood there and never said anything. I know he is an accomplice.”
According to Officer Commanding Corozal Police, Superintendent Dennis Arnold, police patrol in the area led to the swift detention of two siblings, who are also of the village.
Supt. Dennis Arnold
“Every year, we have our Christmas Anti-crime operation and that is in effect and because officers were around in the area, within less than five minutes, we had both suspects in custody.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
