Why Was Johvanney Tablada Killed?
Johvanney Tablada
Police are tonight following all leads to crack the murder of Johvanney Tablada, the twenty-three-year-old was shot and killed in front of the house of his girlfriend on Saturday night where a party was taking place. Tablada’s family believes it is not gang related but police are not ruling that out. They are also investigating whether Tablada’s murder was related to a shooting at the family residence on Neal’s Pen Road, a violent incident at Pier One Bar and if it has to do with relationships. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Velda Tablada, Grandmother of Deceased
“He was not a gang member, did not believe in violence, no thief, nothing. He just, more or less, like a gialis, I would say. He had two girlfriends, you know, and I told him to slow down. He said, “Yes Granny, [it’s] nothing.”
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Was Johvanney Tablada’s romantic involvement with two women the reason for his demise? It’s a question that his grandmother is grappling with in the wake of his murder on Saturday night. The twenty-three-year-old was shot multiple times while attending a party at the residence of one of those women on Faber’s Road Extension.
Velda Tablada
“I saw him step home on Wednesday along with the same young lady from Faber’s [Road] and they were having an affair before. And I said, “Johvanney, I need to speak to you.” And he said, “Okay Gran” and he came in and I asked him, I said, “What’s wrong?” That’s when he started telling me again that him and [his other girlfriend] were going through some changes. But it was something concerning a text message that [she] got from the same little young lady. I don’t really how much she got into their life, but I told him [to] slow down and he said, “Yes Gran, nothing di happen.”
Despite refuting his involvement with her, investigators are still looking into Tablada’s personal life and his supposed relationship with the other woman. It is one of three leads being followed in an attempt to crack the case. On Monday, Assistant Superintendent Alejandro Cowo briefly touched on several angles that are actively being pursued.
ASP Alejandro Cowo
ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City
“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 rumoured around.”
The third incident is presumably related to a shooting that occurred at the family residence on Neal’s Pen Road in November 2018, when an attempt was made on the life of Stephan Tablada. In the wake of that shooting, a resident of Raccoon Street Extension was arrested and charged.
File: November 22nd, 2018, Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino, C.I.B., Belize City
Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino
“Joshua Gallego, a twenty-five-year-old resident of Raccoon Street Extension, he was charged for wounding and use of deadly means of harm. He was charged on the twentieth of November.”
Reporter
“Is this related to the previous shooting at that same address, of a relative of Mr. Tablada?”
Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino
“No, not at this point.”
Reporter
“Is there some gang rivalry or personal rivalry?”
Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino
“We do know that there has to be some tension in the area and we are addressing it.”
Tablada’s grandmother has openly stated that he was not involved in any criminal or gang activity. Police, however, have compiled related information on him.
Andrea Polanco
“Sir, is there anything in your archives to suggest or that would show that Tablada was involved in any recent criminal activity?”
ASP Alejandro Cowo
“Yes, we do have some background on him already.”
Andrea Polanco
“Do you know if there is any possibility that any of those incidents may be connected to his murder?”
ASP Alejandro Cowo
“As I had just mentioned, there are many things that are being speculated and those are the angles that we are looking at this moment.”
Isani Cayetano reporting for News Five.
