Kajoan Tony Roches is Murdered on Ebony Street, Belize City
Kajoan Tony Roches
A resident of Mahogany Street, Belize City was shot and killed around eight-thirty on Thursday night. Two men rode by on Ebony Street where Kajoan Tony Roches was hanging out with friends. One of them opened fire targeting Roches and causing his immediate demise. Here is New Five’s Duane Moody.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Another murder was recorded in Belize City on Thursday night, this time on Ebony Street near its intersection with Magazine Road. Kajoan Tony Roches was standing on the street side talking to one of his friends, when two persons on a motorcycle approached. One of the men turned out to be a gunman who opened fire at Roches. The bullet-riddled zinc fence and blood stains are telltale signs of the tragedy. By the time Roches was taking to the K.H.M.H., he was pronounced dead.
Voice of: Resident
“He usually stop cross deh and hail ih friends. Well the young man by the yard weh ih get shoot or whatever, all ah dehn gone dah school together—from primary school to high school—all ah dehn gone together. So usually ih woulda stop deh and hail ih friend or whatever.”
According to information gathered so far, the Mahogany Street resident was not associated with any gang and did not have run-ins with the law. He lives about two blocks from where he was murdered and lived a crime-free life. It came as a surprise to his friend because earlier that evening he had a conversation with Roches. He didn’t seem troubled.
Voice of: Resident
“I know Tony from a lee youth di go dah primary school. Tony dah mi wah lee pretty bwai; soh we always call ahn. Everything yo meet he, clean off, stay clean. Always got ih haircut, always clean off anywhere. Anywhere a party deh, Tony wah deh right there and always di party; never into trouble. Just always hold ih own corner and take ih lee drink. Every day he pass yah and hail me. Just before I left fi gone dah Cayo, me and he talk. So when I hear about it, ih mi shocking. I dah like Tony? Noh Tony. Noh he.”
Duane Moody
“At any point did he appear maybe worried or that something wrong?”
Voice of: Resident
“He always di smile, so yo neva know if he worried or sad; neva got wah sad face. Anything we meet Tony, he neva got wah sad face, always di smile.”
That intersection is not known to attract gun violence; one resident says that the shooting has the neighbourhood stunned and more so they are still in disbelief that Roches was the target. A motive for the crime is unknown.
Voice of: Resident
“When I grow up round yah, it kinda rough cause pan this corner of Ebony and Magazine [Streets], he dah the first man ever dead soh close to this vicinity. Shooting usually happen more dah back more or the different streets dehn around yah cause yah dah wah calm and peaceful place everything yo know. Gunshot echo hard. My ma call me di fret. I wah know if dah something happen to she cause I di try talk to ahn on the phone and ih can’t talk. So I tell ahn calm down and talk to me. Ih hit close to home because then first time somebody get murdered around yah, like right across the street from this mechanic shop. That neva happen like that, neva. We alwys keep the peace ina fi we neighbourhood.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
