Argument leads to death at Fresh Pond

A shooting this morning near the village of Burrell Boom in the Belize District has left one man dead and the prime suspect armed and on the loose. According to police sometime around ten this morning, the silence of this quiet suburban neighbourhood was shattered by gunfire following an altercation between thirty-seven year old Dean Gillett and the residents of this house in the Fresh Pond housing project. Reports are that Gillett and three other men pulled up at the residence and got into an argument with at least one of the three people at home at the time, all of whom were said to be friends of Gillett. One of those people, a man, is believed to have ended the dispute when he pulled the trigger on his pump action shot gun. The pellets hit Gillett in his head and chest and he died where he fell. Police say they have detained two people for questioning, but investigators continue to search for the triggerman and the motive behind the crime.

Inspector Oscar Puga, Acting OC, CIB

?We?re looking at an incident that occurred sometime about nine o?clock last night whereby there was a misunderstanding between Dean Gillett and some other persons within the same area. As a result of information received that Dean Gillett and other persons had threatened to go back to that area some time this morning in order to cause bodily harm to the family members at that residence.?

Janelle Chanona

?We know Dean Gillett was involved in a robbery a couple of weeks ago. Is this somehow related to that case??

Inspector Oscar Puga

?So far all the information that we have gathered does not suggest that. But we are still investigating thoroughly in order to either bring that to a better perspective or eliminate that suggestion.?

?At this moment like I mentioned, there is an active investigation going on. We will not leave any stones unturned especially as you said earlier if it?s related to any other case. Like I mentioned there is nothing to suggest that at this moment, but we still need to verify that.?

Thirty-seven year old Dean Gillett was in the news just two weeks ago for his alleged involvement with a number of forged checks which were used to purchase thousands of dollars in goods from unsuspecting business houses. He was later charged for handling stolen property.