Joseph August Survives Shooting in Esperanza

Joseph Myvett

Joseph August, a resident of Esperanza Village, Cayo was recently released from prison where he had been incarcerated after being accused of murder of a relative also from the village.  August was on remand since January 2013 for the December 2012 murder of Rene Vera, his cousin. Vera was found lying in a pool of blood at his house; he had been brutally stabbed multiple times.  Tonight, within days of his release, August is hospitalized at the San Ignacio Community Hospital after coming under fire from an unknown gunman on Wednesday night.  As many as twelve rounds were let loose in August’s direction during a spray of bullets, five of them finding their marks on his upper body.  Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett confirms that the shooter appeared on the scene on motorcycle, discharged multiple rounds and made off the way he arrived.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“On May thirtieth, police responded to an information of someone being shot sometime around nine p.m. in Esperanza Village.  Upon police’s arrival, their investigation revealed that one Joseph August was inside a yard in Esperanza Village when he was approached by a lone gunman on a motorcycle, who fired several shots at him, five of which caught him in the upper body.  Upon the police’s examination of the scene, a total of twelve expended shells and one live, nine millimeter round was found.  The victim, Joseph August, was transported to the San Ignacio Community Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.  Police investigation into this matter is ongoing at this time.”

Reporter

“Sir, are you able to speak about the type of expended shells, I mean it sounds like they shot him with a shotgun.”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“A nine millimeter…”

Reporter

“…and he survived five [shots] to the upper body.”

Reporter

“Sir, might this be related to the fact that we heard reports that he recently came off a charge, in court he was acquitted or somehow released from a charge?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Well I cannot say whether or not it was related, but yes indeed, he had recently gotten off a murder charge, as far as I was briefed.”