Business Ernesto Williams is Murdered in the City

Ernesto Williams

The second murder victim in the city is well-known businessman, Ernesto Williams.  Williams was executed early on Friday night as he headed to his vehicle which was parked on Orange Street.  But was the owner of Sky Deck a marked man? He had been advised to take security measures because of a double murder that occurred at the bar located on Baymen Avenue and then there was another homicide at his family home on Euphrates Avenue. Police say they are following all leads into Williams’ murder. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Belizean businessman Ernesto Williams was executed on the night of January twenty-fourth on Orange Street in Belize City. The forty-four-year-old resident of Sunrise Avenue was visiting with a friend at a residence at the corner of Pregnant Alley and Orange Street and as he exited through a metal door and was heading to his vehicle, a gunman fired several shots in his direction. Williams was struck multiple times. Police arrived to the scene and he was rushed to the K.H.M.H., where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Hilberto Romero

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“Around 9:10 p.m., police visited Pregnant Alley in Belize City where they found Ernesto Williams, forty-four years with gunshot injuries. He was attended to at the scene by paramedics where thereafter he was taken to the K.H.M.H. where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Information is that Ernesto Williams has exited a house in that area when he was approached by a male person who fired several shots at him, causing the fatal injuries.”

Williams is the proprietor of a small fast food restaurant, located less than a block from where he was killed; today, a black bow was affixed to the metal shutter of the business.  Williams is more popularly known for Sky Deck, a bar located on Baymen Avenue on north side Belize City.

Back in July of 2019, the bar made the headlines when brothers Maurice and Emory Felix were executed at that location. There was also a murder at his family home on Euphrates Avenue in 2019. Police say that there are looking at several leads to determine a motive behind Williams’ murder.

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“An investigation is being conducted. Yes we have all that information that you mentioned. We will be looking at that to see if that takes us anywhere. I know that those murders had occurred at Euphrates and by Sky Deck on Baymen Avenue.”

Reporter

“Is it something that he had been, because he was socializing, might the persons who invited him to socialize, do they have any useful information in terms of might he have been ambushed there? Someone knew he was there and knew to kill him when he left?

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Again that will be determined by the investigation. Yes we know that he was there associating with persons prior to leaving and being attacked.”

Reporter

“Considering the two incidents that were listed prior to the murder on Friday night, did the victim make any sort of complaints to police of being threatened or having any sort of enemies that would want to bring harm to his life?”

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“No, there were no reports of any direct threats to him. I know that after that incident, he was informed to take precautionary measures, but we are not aware of any recent threats.”

Surveillance footage from the area has since been obtained by police in hopes that the identity of the shooter can be ascertained.

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Video footage is being reviewed to this time and as the day goes along we will know if we have anything.”

Reporter

“I know he is the owner of a firearm; I am told that he is the owner of a licensed firearm. Was there any firearm at the scene; might that have been involved? Was there a theft or anything?”

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“I will have to look into that; we are not certain at this time.”

Duane Moody for News Five.