Cayo’s most wanted man shot by police

This morning Cayo’s most wanted man, escape convict Jordy Espat, was shot and killed by police in a dramatic scene in Santa Elena Town. News 5 understands that just after nine today Espat was recognized by residents, who called police and reported his whereabouts. Within minutes of the call, San Ignacio police had surrounded the area. The authorities say they first ordered Espat to surrender, but when he emerged from his hiding place, instead of holding up his hands in the air, Espat pointed a handgun at the officers. The police response was immediate and deadly…two of their shots hit Espat in the chest. Police transported Jordy Espat to the San Ignacio Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. The twenty-five year old had been on the run since last July, when he escaped from authorities in San Ignacio while waiting to be arraigned in court on charges of rape, burglary and robbery. At that time, he was behind bars serving a three-year sentence for burglary and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Jordy managed to elude capture, but while on the run, police named him as a prime suspect in more than forty burglaries, aggravated burglaries, two armed robberies and two rapes, all occurring in the Cayo District. The cops say when they searched Espat’s body this morning, they found a point thirty-two pistol, a stun gun and a large amount of jewellery…believed to be the proceeds of recent crimes.