BCVI Optician Alwayne Cherrington is Executed Inside His Home

Alwayne Cherrington

Just after seven p.m. on Holy Saturday, shots rang out on Lopez Street off Mahogany Street Extension in Belize City. It would lead to the first of two murders over the Easter weekend. Twenty-four year old Alwayne Cherrington, an optician, was with his wife and other family members when a gunman walked up the steps, entered the house and blasted Cherrington as he watched television. The gunman fled on motorcycle and Cherrington was rushed to the hospital, but he would not survive the shooting. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

As the blast from at least two gunshots echoed in the distance, another Belize City youth was slain and another family was left to mourn. Inside this home on Lopez Street, just off the Mahogany Extension, is where a gunman wearing a rag over his face and a red T-shirt walked up the steps and opened fire on twenty-four year old Alwayne Cherrington as he sat on a sofa watching TV with his wife, his three year old step-daughter and other relatives. Shantel told us the chilling story this morning.

Voice of: Shantel Cherrington, Wife of Murder Victim

“Around seven o’clock. My husband was sitting right here where I am sitting, I was sitting right where you are and my three year old daughter was in between us. It happened so fast, I couldn’t even…I was still in denial that this is not happening. When I heard the shots, I thought it was popshots. In my mind I was like who was so brazen enough to come and just throw dynamite ina my ma house. That’s what I had in my ma mind. I didn’t know it was gunshots. All I could think of is my daughter because she was in between two of us. I still can’t believe; my mom told me I was moving in slow motion; I was walking towards the room.”

Everyone scurried for cover, while Shantel took her daughter to the room and out of harm’s way. She would then realize that it wasn’t a pop shot, but that Alwayne was shot at close range multiple times.

Voice of Shantel Cherrington

“In my mind, I am feeling for my husband. I had my hand behind me and just wanted him to hold my hand or try to grab him that’s when I realize that…I saw everyone scattering in the house and I still had that dynamite because it really sounded like dynamite; I didn’t know it was gunshots. Until I reach that door and reality hit me and I look back and I saw my husband drenched in his blood, just bleeding from his mouth. That’s when I realized he got shot. Didn’t know where on his body he got shot so I ran towards him and I was holding him. I got a towel from someone—I don’t know who gave me the towel—and I was wrapping it around him, cleaning his mouth; trying to get the blood that was coming to stop. I didn’t know where. I didn’t know it was in his head. And I was screaming, yelling for help…somebody please call 911…my husband is shot.”

Alwayne was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but died within minutes.

Voice of Shantel Cherrington

“I was sitting there with him trying to let him stay with me while the officer had him in his shirt because he is heavy. The car was moving fast so we didn’t want him to fall out. He was just moaning and moaning and moaning and just bleeding and bleeding. We got to the hospital and yelled for help and they took him away on the bed. I think it was half an hour after, the doctor came out and said they wanted to speak to me, but that they wanted to speak with me, but for me to come in the room. And they told me he didn’t make it.”

Alwayne was an optician at the Belize Council for the Visual Impaired. He had just left his home two blocks away on Garden Street to visit with Shantel and her family. He was to return home to prepare the sermon for Easter Sunday mass at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Cemetery Road. So why would anyone want him dead?

Alejandro Cowo

Insp. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., CIB, Eastern Division South

“Up to now we have three persons in custody that we are questioning that maybe can provide some information to us in regards to this latest murder we have in our area. Up to now we cannot establish a motive. This person is not known to be of any gang or gang affiliated or of any other troublesome person.”

Reporter

“So you don’t have any idea who might have done something like this to your husband?”

Voice of Shantel Cherrington

“No I have no idea why.”

After firing the deadly shots, residents say that the gunman fled on a motorcycle driven at the time by someone else. The bicycle, believed to have been used by the gunman to enter the neighborhood, was recovered by police.

Insp. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., CIB, Eastern Division South

“We recovered a bicycle, but the bicycle wasn’t at the scene; it was a distance from the scene. Apparently the person ran left the bicycle there and the police recovered it two lots away from the actual shooting scene.”

Duane Moody for News Five.