Orange Walk Taxi Man is Injured in Shooting in San Jose Nuevo Palmar
Ricardo Uk
A popular taxi man escaped with his life on Monday evening when he was targeted by someone who was trailing him in the San Jose Nuevo Palmar area of Orange Walk. Forty-six-year-old Ricardo Uk was with a female passenger when he came under fire from a masked gunman in the area of the water tank in the village. Uk and the woman fled and the gunman drove off in Uk’s SUV. He was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital for the injuries to the chest. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Well-known taxi man in Orange Walk, Ricardo Uk was injured in a shooting on the night of January sixth in San Jose Nuevo Palmar. As the forty-six-year-old Douglas resident took a fare to the village, another vehicle trailed him. Uk came to a stop on San Jose Drive, about one hundred and fifty feet from the water tank in the village. Seconds later a gunman alighted the trailing vehicle and opened fire; Uk and the female passenger scattered, but the taxi man later realized that he had been shot to the chest. The gunman then fled in his white Mitsubishi Outlander SUV towards the bypass. Residents say they heard three shots.
Voice of: Resident
“I came inside around 6:20 and I sat at my mom’s side and we were talking and then I heard like three shots. And then I turned around and looked at her and we looked at each other, but we didn’t pay much mind. And then like ten to fifteen seconds, my neighbour came and asked us if we can call the police because the man got shot and he is laying down on the street. And then we came out and the poor man just came way back here. When I saw, he was bleeding on the left side. So I called the police.”
Four expended nine millimetre shells were found at the scene, but by the time police arrived, Uk had already been taken to the Northern Regional Hospital.
Voice of: Resident
“He said I don’t have beef with nobody. I don’t have no problem with nobody. And he was asking about the girl and then he asked where was this girl. The girl was standing right by the shop and then someone came and picked her up and then she went. Then I guess she realized mien the man got shot and so she came back for the man and took him to the hospital.”
Just before one p.m. today he was discharged and is recovering. Fearing for his life, he declined to give an interview today, but says that he has no beef with anyone. A resident in the village says that Uk is a friendly person.
Voice of: Resident
“This village is very calm with peaceful people and people in their own business; no trouble with each other. So first time we heard this thing. In the area where lot of people are.”
Duane Moody
“I understand that you normally use this taxi man as well.”
Voice of: Resident
“Yes. I always call him and in less than five minutes he is already here. He is very friendly; always talk about his things and how life is and that. [A] very friendly person.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
