A Partygoer is Executed in a Hail of Bullets on Faber’s Road Extension

Johvanney Tablada

Hours before the Williams’ murder, the weekend’s first homicide took place on Faber’s Road where Johvanney Tablada was marked for dead. The twenty-three-year-old was at a party at the house of his girlfriend when he was executed before eight o’clock. Police are looking at different angles including one that it may have been motivated by a previous murder at Pier One and another that it had to do with his girlfriend with whom he had just renewed a relationship. News Five Isani Cayetano.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A party at a residence on Faber’s Road Extension turned deadly on Saturday night when a gunman opened fire on a guest as he stood nearby.  Twenty-three-year-old Johvanney Tablada was attending the event with family and friends when someone rode up on a bicycle and took aim at him.  His grandmother was at home on Neal’s Pen Road when her daughter informed her of what had just happened.

Velda Tablada

Velda Tablada, Grandmother of Deceased

“She came and she got and said that she just got a phone call that there was a shooting at a party where Johvanney was attending on Faber’s Road and ih seh ih don’t know if it’s one of my sons, her brother, or who was that someone to us that got shot.  So they went to Faber’s Road to check and then she called and said that the vehicle passed through here.”

Johvanney was being rushed for emergency medical treatment at the K.H.M.H. after receiving multiple injuries to the body.

Alejandro Cowo

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

“Just after 7:45 p.m., police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they observed one Johvanney Tablada, twenty-three-year-old Belizean suffering from several apparent gunshot wounds to the body.  He was pronounced dead on arrival.  Initial investigation is that Johvanney Tablada was socializing along with other family members at 9899 Faber’s Road Extension when he was approached by someone who fired several shots at his direction, causing the abovementioned fatal injuries to him.”

According to Velda Tablada, who asked not to appear on camera, her grandson was involved with a young lady who lives at the residence where the party was being held.  She says that after having been separated for a while, the couple got back together recently but that she was wary of their relationship.

Velda Tablada

“He had a girlfriend from the said yard and they broke up and they made up back, but I didn’t like the relationship so I called him and I told him on Wednesday.  I said, “Johvanney, I need to speak to you.”  He came in and said, “Yes, Gran?”  I said, “You’re starting that relationship back again.”  There was something happening back at the yard before and I understand that two of the family members jumped him.  I don’t know what was the outcome or why it happened or anything, so I told him to keep away.”

It has not been determined whether the previous incident which the grandmother recounted is related to Tablada’s murder.  What police have been able to confirm is that the young man was singled out by his attacker.

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“There are several things that we are following up.  We have heard the theory of a female being involved.  We are also hearing about the incident at Pier One and another incident.  So we are following the three incidents that it is being rumored around.”

Isani Cayetano

“You’ve mentioned the fact that you did not approve of the relationship the second time around.  Do you believe that perhaps the relationship may have had to do with his demise or is it something where perhaps he was targeted by another individual for something totally different?”

Velda Tablada

“I don’t know.  I really don’t know because they are all family in that neighborhood there.  I don’t really know.  My son who was there came to me and said, “Mom, I just told Johvanney let’s go.  Johvanney said, “Yes, I’m going right now.”  And he moved and he walked across the street.  The other brother had already left, so I feel like it was a target because they waited until the older brother went and my son, his uncle, went across the street when the shooting started.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.