Security Officer Murdered in Hattieville in Brazen Shooting
Kevin Hyde
A man was murdered down in a brazen late evening shooting today in Hattieville Village, Belize District. Forty-seven-year-old Kevin Hyde was sitting at a bus shed along the highway in the village when two men pounced on him, one of which released a barrage of bullets. Hyde, a security officer at the Belize City Council, was shot about seven times to the body, killing him instantly. The killers escaped on foot, across the highway, and into the bushes. This latest late evening murder occurred just a stone’s throw away from the Hattieville Police Station. Hyde’s sister Sylvania Barrow, who is also the village’s chairlady, says it may very well be a case of mistaken identity as her brother was not a trouble maker.
Sylvania Barrow
Sylvania Barrow, Sister of Deceased
“I was by the center, practicing with the kids for the upcoming carnival. The kids ran in there and said that they are calling Mrs. Sylvania; somebody just got shot by the bus shed. When I came, I saw it was my brother down there but he is not a person who gives trouble. He goes and come from work; he barely even talks to anybody. I think it is mistaken identity.”
Hipolito Novelo
“He was under the shed alone?”
Sylvania Barrow
“He comes out every evening to come out from work at around this same time.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Do you believe he was targeted though?”
Sylvania Barrow
“No, mistaken identity.”
Reporter
“Can you tell us about him, what type of person he was?”
Sylvania Barrow
“Provoking, idle and he just like runs joke.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Does it infuriate you that the police station is just a stone’s throw away from where it happened?”
Sylvania Barrow
“Yes I believe the police could serve their community better because they are a stone’s throw away because if you hear a gunshot, you are not far. You can jump into your vehicle and you would have seen who shot my brother and see who was running because the culprits were on foot.”
Hipolito Novelo
“It was one person?”
Sylvania Barrow
“I heard two Hispanic persons.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Do you believe they are from the area?”
Sylvania Barrow
“I don’t believe that they are from Hattieville because everyone in Hattieville know my brother and they know that he is not a person who gives trouble so I don’t believe that they are from Hattieville.”
