Bz. City mechanic murdered at Salt Creek
While thousands of Belizeans enjoyed the long Easter weekend, one Belize City man had his holiday cut tragically short by a hail of bullets. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has the story.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The body of thirty-one year old Trevor Wiltshire was found in this clump of bushes by a pond near the Salt Creek Firing Range at mile thirteen on the Northern Highway. The well-known Belize City mechanic was discovered around midday on Sunday afternoon. He had been shot several times to the head, stomach and right arm.
Authorities believe that whoever brought Trevor Wiltshire here took the Salt Creek Firing Range tortured him and then shot him to death. The Wiltshire family would not talk to us about the murder, only telling News 5 that they do not have any information. However, we understand that at the time of his death, Wiltshire had bought himself a gun and was in the process of applying for a licence, which lead police to believe the young man may have feared for his life.
The family has since confirmed that Wiltshire had a license for his gun and that he had bought the weapon because of all the crime that was occurring in the city. The last time Wiltshire was seen alive was during the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. He had watched the race with family members and then said he would be going to the range to shoot and fish.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“We believe that probably the murder occurred some time around Saturday. Forensics has yet to determine the exact time of death and it’s not always and easy thing to do. But we believe that it was within the space of forty-eight hours of course.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What condition was the body in, because we’re hearing different reports that him fingers were burnt and he was shot?”
G. Michael Reid
“I’m not at this moment at liberty to disclose any of that, there’s an investigation ongoing. We know that there were gunshot wounds to the body, that I can tell you, so the body was there near a creek around mile thirteen on the Northern Highway. Apart from that, at this point everything is in the preliminary stage of the investigation.”
Police cannot say whether or not Wiltshire was set up or killed by someone he knew, but authorities say they are still trying to determine what happened at the range and why Wiltshire, described as a quiet and pleasant person, was murdered.
G. Michael Reid
“We do know that he had a firearm, we know that this was a firing range or used to be I don’t think that it’ still a firing range. His going there though might be…there are people that still go there and do practice shooting, though it is no longer designed for that case and it might be a bit dangerous. So we don’t know, we know that there are reports that the body was seen and people thought he was just fishing and just laying there while his rod was in the water or something, so at this point, it’s all preliminary, I cannot reveal anything at this point, because the investigation has just began.”
Whoever killed Wiltshire also stole his handgun and money. The police are appealing to anyone who can assist them with the investigation to please call the nearest station. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
Police say they are looking for two suspects in connection with the murder, but have not released their names. The murder of Trevor Wiltshire was number fifteen for 2003.
