Carlos Lopez is Gunned Down in a Home Invasion in Lord’s Bank
Carlos Lopez
He is no stranger to the cops and has been charged multiple times in the past for drug related incidents, but on Thursday night, Carlos Lopez was murdered inside his home in Lord’s Bank Village. Around eight p.m., Lopez and his niece had just arrived home when within minutes the blast of gunshots echoed in the distance. Lopez was hit multiple times and died. Seven expended shells were reportedly recovered from inside the house where he had been living for quite some time. It is not known how the gunman gained access to the house, but luckily his niece hid inside a room and was unharmed. There is speculation that Lopez was in possession of a substantial sum of money and that that may have motivated the killing. While police did not confirm this, investigators are looking at all angles to solve this latest homicide. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The latest homicide took place overnight in the Lord’s Bank Village. Thirty-five-year-old Carlos Lopez was shot multiple times to the head and body inside a house he rented in the community. At the time of the murder, his niece was inside the house and hid in a room when she heard the blasts from the gunshots.
Joseph Myvett
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“Shortly after eight p.m., police were called to the Lord’s Bank area, the home of one Carlos Lopez, where upon arrival, they were informed that Carlos Lopez had arrived sometime shortly before eight along with one of his nieces who exited the vehicle and then went into his home, while he stayed outside to close the gate and secure the vehicle. According to her, she heard a number of shots and thereafter the police were called.”
Residents say that up to twelve shots were heard around eight p.m., but when they ran outside, there was no activity; in fact, all that could be seen or heard was a church service happening two houses away from the murder scene.
News Five understands that the police initially were unable to locate the property, but were later escorted by one of Lopez’s sisters to the murder scene. His body was later discovered inside the house, shirtless and wearing only a long jeans pants.
ACP Joseph Myvett
“The police then visited the area and conducted searches outside and then while searching inside the body of Carlos Lopez was found inside his home, dressed in a blue jeans pants without shirt with gunshot injuries and motionless. The scene was processed and his body was removed and transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where it was pronounced dead.”
Was the gunman already inside the house when Lopez and his niece arrived at the house? Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett says that there is no evidence to prove that theory, but that one person has since been detained.
ACP Joseph Myvett
“I don’t think that we have any evidence to suggest that he was inside the home. That person may have been in the yard I would say, other than to say he was in the home.”
Reporter
“Has there been determination as to why someone would have wanted to target the deceased?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“At this point in time, no, we have not been able to determine a motive. So far, there are no leads yet and one person is detained at this time, pending the investigation.”
Back in December of 2017 Lopez had been charged for drug trafficking offenses in relation to a cocaine seizure in the Buttonwood Bay area of Belize City. That case fell apart and he and his co-accused were freed of the charges. Then in October of 2018, Lopez and another Belize City resident were caught in a marijuana bust near the northern border in Corozal. The prosecution withdrew its case against Lopez when his accomplice took the rap for the drugs. ACP Myvett says that during the investigation of this homicide, the police will look at all angles.
Carlos Lopez
ACP Joseph Myvett
“That will not be an issue. That too will be investigated, but that is not a part or that is not an issue in this investigation.”
Reporter
“So apart from that drug charge, there is nothing else in his background or anything that police…”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“None that we know of at this point in time.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
