Ronald Michael is Gunned Down on Ordonez Street

Ronald Michael

It’s a big night of news from murders in the city and the south to a courtroom in Utah, U.S.A. for a high profile case of fraud which extends to Belize. We begin with the bloodiest weekend since the start of the year. A total of four persons were murdered in the past seventy-two hours, plus a shooting victim succumbs. That’s a total of five persons whose deaths are under investigation. Now, the latest murder occurred as early as ten o’clock this morning on Ordonez Street in Belize City. Ronald Michael is said to have gone to that area to assist in clearing a yard when he was shot and killed. Was he at the wrong place? His family and friends are stunned at the brazen murder. Here is Duane Moody with a report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

The most recent homicide occurred this morning around ten o’clock on Ordonez Street in the Lake Independence area of Belize City.  Ronald Michael was gunned down in broad daylight as he was cutting a yard in the area. He was to the rear of the Ordonez residence when a gunman approached and fired at least two shots at him.

Lorenzo Ordonez, Homeowner

“My daughter boyfriend is his friend. Friend with friend. My wife called me and told me that young man was helping our daughter to chop the yard and that he had been shot behind the house by the septic tank. So I drive up here along with the police and saw the whole commotion. I just waiting to se a picture of him; I don’t know him.”

As the scene was processed, family and friends arrived and stood behind the caution tape as the area had been cordoned off. Emotional at the news that their loved one had been killed, the family attempted to gain access, but were stopped by police. A relative would be allowed to identify Ronald after his body was placed in the pan of a pickup truck and later carted off to the K.H.M.H. morgue.

Supt. Reymundo Reyes, Belize Police Department

“Yes we know that an incident happened, but I don’t have no comments. The investigation is pretty young. The police don’t know what actually happened here. We have to sit down and see what information we get from the grounds. We just di look fi start to canvass the area and get information.”

Reymundo Reyes

Reporter

“What is the preliminary scene of crime? How many shots?”

Supt. Reymundo Reyes

“I noh have no more comments.”

Duane Moody

“The guy lived in this area sir?”

Supt. Reymundo Reyes

“No comments Mister Moody. As soon as police get information then that will be relayed to the press. At this moment, we don’t have no information. All we know is that somebody was killed and police di investigate the matter.”

What News Five was able to gather is that Michael did not frequent the area, but was assisting a friend by cutting the yard. Ironically, that good gesture cost him his life.

Lorenzo Ordonez

Lorenzo Ordonez

“It’s a favour he is doing to my family in other words, because he is my daughter’s friend, good friend. So he came here because my daughter is trying to build a house in the area so he came here to help her clear the area, get it ready to build a house.”

Reporter

“Ma’am you called him to come in the area to chop. Were you expecting any of this, this morning?”

Kenisha Ordonez, Friend of Deceased

“No. No.”

Reporter

“He’s your friend. Tell us a little bit about him.”

Kenisha Ordonez

Kenisha Ordonez

“Dah mi wah nice person. I noh know much about ahn, but all I know he was good to me.”

Reporter

“Is he normally in this area?”

Kenisha Ordonez, Friend of Deceased

“No.”

Reporter

“What made you call him today?”

Kenisha Ordonez

“Because I di build wah house dah back. And then…so he tell me sis I wah help yo. So I tell ahn alright then, but the area need fi clean. So he say alright then I wah come help yo. He mi supposed to come do it from Saturday, but he never get the thing dehn fi do it so ih come and do it today. And I mi deh pan the veranda with ahn all the while. All the while I mi deh with ahn pan the veranda. I come in and comb my nephew hair and then we hear the bomb. But we mi have wah fire dah back so we say dah mussi something outta di fire.”

Kenisha Ordonez says that she heard two shots and later realized that Michael had been targeted. Police has identified Michael as a resident from the PIV area and that he was in rival gang territory. Duane Moody for News Five.