Murder Strikes Quiet North Side Neighborhood

Luis Dominguez

There was another murder over the weekend that police have to crack. Just before midnight on Sunday, a City Council employee was shot and killed. Thirty-five-year-old Luis Dominguez, better known as Esse, was at a yard in the Kings Park area when a gunman unleashed a barrage of bullets that found their mark on him.  He died instantly. Dominguez was considered a family member and a frequent visitor to the house where his life was taken. It is known that the gunman took aim at another house while fleeing the scene. The motive for Dominguez’s murder is still not determined. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. 

Duane Moody, Reporting

Just before midnight on Saturday, there was yet another murder in the Old Capital, this time in a quiet neighborhood in King’s Park on the north side. Thirty-five-year-old Luis Dominguez sat on a chair around this table at a residence on Eight Street, when a lone gunman entered the yard and opened fire on him. Dominguez was hit multiple times to the chest and died within minutes.

Alejandro Cowo

ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City

“Police observed the motionless body of Luis Dominguez lying face up on the street. Initial information reveals that Mister Dominguez was sitting on a table inside of the compound when a male person approached him and fired several shots at him. The male person then ran from Eight Street on to Twelfth Street and fired four more shots in the area. What we understand is that he was hanging there from earlier the day and was along with other persons at the time of the shooting.”

While police are reviewing surveillance footage from the area, a motive for the crime has not been established.

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“We are not sure; we cannot say that it is gang-related up to this moment.”

Reporter

“Was Mister Dominguez known to the police?”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“Yes he has had some incidents that he had been arrested, but not anything that had anything to do with any shooting, but other minor offenses.”

Duane Moody

“Did he at any point say that his life was threatened or anything like that?”

Dion Leslie, Councilor

“Well in the department that he worked, he is around the entire city, out in the open. So at no time would you believe that somebody would come and get a job, they know the type of job they are getting and you are exposed to the elements in that sense. And at no time, did he come to the council or come to his manager, Mister Menjivar, and said I noh want go work here because of this. All of us, we had no clue or he gave us no inclination that there was an issue.”

Dominguez was affectionately known to family and friends as “Esse.” Up to his untimely death, he was employed with the Belize City Council in the works department. Councilor Dion Leslie says that too many staff members have tragically lost their lives in the past year and a half.

Dion Leslie

Dion Leslie

“The even sad part of it was councilor Alain Gonzalez who was the doctor on duty that night who called it. He’s been with the council since November 2013; those who know him know that he was one of those persons who were so happy for his job. Every time you met him, it was nothing but a smile. He worked under the works department for the concrete crew when City Council would do concrete streets or any street that we needed to patch up, he worked on that crew. Every time you would meet him and talk to him, he was so excited for the job saying that he’s changing his life and so happy that we the council gave the opportunity for him to do so. All around he was happy for life and wanted the change and it is so sad that his life came to an end in this way. We will miss him terribly at the council.”

Duane Moody for News Five.