Kadeem Castillo Gunned Down in the City

Kadeem Castillo

“Shiny” Tillett’s murder triggered another and hours later, twenty-two year old Kadeem Castillo was gunned down in Belize City. His body was found on Madam Liz Crescent in the Faber’s Road area. He had gunshot wounds to the chest and head. Three men drove up in vehicle, approached Castillo and another person and unleashed a hail of bullets; four caught Castillo. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Just after midnight on Saturday, shots rang out on Madam Liz Crescent off Faber’s Road Extension in south side Belize City. As the echo from the blasts subsided, inside the drain in front of 7761 Madam Liz Crescent, the gun-riddled body of twenty-two year old Kadeem Castillo was discovered. At least three gunmen exited a grey vehicle and opened fire on Castillo and another person.

Alden Dawson

Sr. Supt. Alden Dawson, Dep. Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“Further checks on the body revealed that he had two gunshot wounds to the chest and two to the head. Our investigation so far is that Castillo and another person was socializing on that street when a car drove up and three persons alighted the vehicle and fired several shots; four of which caught the deceased.”

Castillo, according to his family, is not a gangbanger. His sister Crysel Gabourel Baptist, had just dropped him off at his friend’s house where he was going to stay for the night outing.  But just before one a.m. on Sunday, she was awoken with the most tragic news.

Voice of: Crysel Gabourel Baptist, Sister of Murder Victim

“Saturday he came back to work and after class, we went to 88 to buy some paint and then we came back to my mom’s house to cut and paint sticks. He was clowning around, making us laugh. We watched movies on the laptop after that and when I was done with some of my work, we left. He came out with us, but he forgot his pocket bible so he went back inside to get it. Then we dropped him off at his friend’s house; that was where he was going to stay for the night. They’re practically his family too. We went home afterwards and I got several missed calls. When I did manage to get up and called back, my uncle told me he was outside my house because he came to deliver some bad news. He told me my brother was shot and it was pretty bad; that he had died.”

No one has been detained in connection with this homicide in the city, but police believe that the shooting may have been as a result of the murder of Gerald “Shiny” Tillett four hours earlier in Dangriga.

Chester Williams

On the Phone: ACP Chester Williams, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“We believe that the shooting may be as a result of the shooting death of Gerald Tillett which took place in Dangriga town on the same Saturday night.”

Duane Moody

“Why does police feel that it is linked to the murder that happened in Dangriga?”

On the Phone: ACP Chester Williams

“Well because of what we know from our investigation, but as I said, I am not going to go into specifics as it relates to Mister Castillo’s character. I don’t think it is an issue at this time.”

Castillo was a brother, a son and a friend.

Voice of: Crysel Gabourel Baptist

“It’s very hard on us; I still can’t believe it. He was loved by many and known for his funny ways. He was just a big clown basically. He faced a lot in life; things didn’t always come easy to him, but he was a hard worker. He looked up to me and always called me during rough times. We loved and we lost. All we can do is pray that he is at peace.”

Duane Moody for News Five.