San Pedro Resident Fatally Stabbed on Independence Day Morning

Jesus Mai

Official Independence Day ceremonies were held countrywide, but in San Ignacio, the day was tainted by violence. There were two stabbing incidents at the same venue on Hudson Street in the town. The first was fatal for a San Pedro resident who had recently relocated west for work. Twenty-seven year old Jesus Mai met his death after partying at Blue Angels Nightclub; he was stabbed three times and died within hours. News Five’s Duane Moody traveled west and has the story.

Duane Moody, Reporting

The first stabbing took place on the morning of Independence Day. Jesus Mai, a resident of San Pedro, was stabbed multiple times to the upper body as he exited the Blue Angels nightclub, a popular establishment, on Hudson Street in San Ignacio. He was mortally stabbed by a man who was also partying inside the nightclub. Mai ran up Hudson Street and collapsed in front of an ICB branch near the police station on King Street. He shouted out for help and was later rushed to the San Ignacio Community Hospital, but died within hours.

Richard Rosado

Supt. Richard Rosado, O.C., San Ignacio Police Formation

“On Wednesday, the twenty-first of September 2016 about two-forty-five a.m., based on information received of a stabbing incident, San Ignacio police visited the San Ignacio Polyclinic where they saw a male Hispanic persons suffering from three apparent stab wounds to the upper part of his body. He succumbed to his injuries at about five a.m. on the said date. He was later identified as Jesus Marin Mai, twenty-seven years construction worker of a San Pedro address.”

The twenty-seven year old construction worker had just recently moved to San Ignacio where he had acquired work. He was celebrating Independence Day when he was killed. Police say while a motive has not been established alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor.

Supt. Richard Rosado

“Initial investigation revealed that the deceased was socializing at a local nightclub on Hudson Street and sometime after exiting the nightclub he was engaged in a misunderstanding with another male individual who subsequently inflicted the stab wound on the deceased. The deceased subsequently ran and collapsed on King Street. The body was transported to the San Ignacio Polyclinic where it awaits a postmortem. Statements have been recorded and we are looking for one person of interest for questioning. We are still looking for the murder weapon, but what we have ascertained so far is that the individual, both individuals were at the nightclub and sometime after exiting the nightclub they had a misunderstanding and that’s where the deceased received stab wounds.”

It is believed that the murder suspect was also injured in the incident and that person is being sought by police. But stabbings and murders as a result of drinking have been a perennial problem for that jurisdiction.   Superintendent Richard Rosado says that the department has been working with the liquor licensing board and the Town Council to address the issue.

Supt. Richard Rosado

“We met with the liquor licensing board and the town council to address the factors contributing the violence within liquor establishments. In fact in my jurisdiction, ninety percent of all major incidents occur from liquor establishments or as a result of alcohol. Together with the Liquor Licensing Board and the Town Council, we are looking at the concentration of bars within the community. We are looking at the issuance of extension to the nightclubs and the conditions stipulated therein. We are looking at the issuance of liquor license with stipulated conditions in particular the adherence to the intoxicating liquor license amendment act number four of 2006 as it relates to security guards. We are also looking at other enforcement strategies that we do not want to disclose at this moment.”

Duane Moody for News Five.