In Libertad, a Corozal Man Ambushed and Shot to Death
Sherman McFarlane
There is further loss of life. Up north in the village of Libertad, Sherman McFarlane, was ambushed by one of four gunmen who lay-waited him in the dark of the night on Tuesday. Twenty-two-year-old McFarlane was servicing his vehicle when his attacker opened fire on him just before ten o’clock. His trip to the village to visit with friends cost him his life. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The can with flowers and candle placed here on the side of Cemetery Lane, just outside this fenced yard, marks the spot where the body of Santa Rita resident, Sherman McFarlane came to a rest after he was executed on Tuesday night. Beside his Kia Sportage SUV, his body was found slouched to the ground; the driver’s door of the vehicle was open. McFarlane was shot once to the right side of his face by one of four men who exited the bushes and ambushed him at around nine-forty-five p.m.
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, O.C., Corozal Police
“Tuesday the fifteenth day of November 2016, police were called out to Cemetery Road, Libertad Village, Corozal District at nine-forty-five p.m. last night. Upon arrival, police saw what appeared to be the lifeless body of a Hispanic male person crouched beside a vehicle with what appears to be one single bullet wound to the right side of the cheek. Initial investigation revealed that while Mister Sherman McFarlane, twenty-two years, was coming from a friend’s house, apparently they were about to service the vehicle in terms of putting water and oil and what’s not in the vehicle. And four persons came from the nearby bushes—three of them stood from a distance; one of them a dark male person wearing a camouflage jacket with a red rag over his face and a black cap stepped up to Mister McFarlane and fired one single shot with a nine mm pistol which caught him to the right side of his cheek.”
Dennis Arnold
Today when we spoke with his family, they were expectedly overwhelmed by the tragedy and refused any on camera interview on the murder of their loved one. But what was McFarlane doing in Libertad? According to police and residents in the area, he was visiting with a friend when he came under attack. One resident says McFarlane dodged the gunman, but within seconds the sound of the single blast echoed through the village.
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
“What police have unearthed is that on Monday, Mister McFarlane and two other persons had a misunderstanding where they had made threats. We have one person in custody and we are looking for two others.”
Duane Moody
“Now, he was with someone else. Did that person get injured?”
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
“No. Yes, he was with two other persons, but neither of the two got injured; only Mister McFarlane…one single shot. Apparently he was the intended target.”
So what’s the motive behind the execution of the Santa Rita youth? Police say they are looking at all angles, including drugs, and have since detained one person and are searching for others in connection with this latest homicide.
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
“The investigation is fairly young and at this point we don’t want to speculate.”
Duane Moody
“Is Mister McFarlane from Libertad? What was he doing in that area?”
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
“Mister McFarlane is from in town here, a Corozal Town address. Apparently he has friends up there that he usually goes and socialize and visit.”
Duane Moody
“Was he caught up in the criminal justice system? Did he come in contact with the law at any point before?”
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
“Not to my knowledge since I am here for the past year and four months. But we have also unearthed that yes; he does deal with the underworld things.”
Duane Moody
“And that could have been one of the triggering factors?”
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
“Well I don’t want to speculate; could be.”
Duane Moody
“Has the murder weapon been recovered?”
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
“Not as yet.”
Duane Moody
“And the person detained? Is he believed to be the one that pulled the trigger?”
Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold
“Well if he is not, he is the person who usually would set things to happen.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
