Man Killed in Corozal but was He the Intended Target?

David Martinez

A construction worker was killed in Corozal Town on Friday night. Police say they don’t know why David Martinez was gunned down and if the bullets were meant for him when he was shot to death at his family’s residence. At this time several persons are in police detention but cops say that they need the public’s help to solve this fatal shooting. Reporter Andrea Polanco tells us more in the following story.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Twenty-three-year-old David Martinez was shot and killed inside his family’s yard on Friday night just before eight o’clock.  Martinez and two friends were hanging out under this shed at his parents’ house in the San Andres Road in Corozal Town when he came under gunfire.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“What the police know so far is that the deceased and two other persons were conversing in his yard when two male persons dressed in black approached the yard from nearby bushes, fired several shots in their direction; one of which caught the deceased.”

Martinez was reportedly sitting on this white bucket when two masked men walked up and fired several shots. Those shots also hit various objects under the shed, including a scooter and a barbecue grill. Martinez was shot in his lower back. His two friends escaped unhurt. Today police couldn’t confirm whether Martinez was indeed the intended target.

ACP Joseph Myvett

“He appeared to have a gunshot injury to the right lower back. As a result he was transported to the Corozal Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”

Reporter

“Anything to indicate his life was in danger?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“None that the police gathered so far; other than to say that the victim was working in San Pedro and had just come home a few days back.”

Joseph Myvett

Reporter

“Based on your investigation, are police able to say if he was the intended target?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“At this point in time we are not able to say that.”

The family says that they don’t know why David was killed. He was living and working in San Pedro and was only in Corozal for a few days to visit his relatives. Police say that while they have detained several persons, they need the public’s help to try and solve this killing.

ACP Joseph Myvett

“So far police have detained several persons and are following severalleads. We are also appealing to the public to assist us with whatever information they have that can assist us in this investigation.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.