Security guard killed in Belize City

A Chinese owned shop may be a typical target for robbery, but the wanton destruction caused by Belize City’s young thugs is spreading far beyond the barred windows and locked cash drawers of the corner grocery. The latest fatality in the city’s crime spree is not an immigrant from Asia, but from the continent of Africa. Thirty-one year old Kingsford Obeng, a citizen of Ghana, was employed as a security guard at Sonny’s Supermarket on Central American Boulevard near Fabers Road. On Saturday night around 7:30 a man who frequently shopped at Sonny’s walked into the store and approached Obeng, apparently in friendship. Appearances were deceiving, however, as John Baptist, a friend and fellow guard told News Five this morning.

John Baptist, AAA Security Guard

“On Saturday night he came and told him that two guys down the lane wanted to attack him with a machete, so he wanted the gun to kill the two guys. But my friend, the security guard refused to do it. He told him, he won’t give him the gun. The guy went off and told him “If you don’t give me the gun you will pay…” About fifteen minutes later he came back. Obeng had his back towards the street. The guy approached him, put both hands behind his back, fighting him to get his pistol. Obeng then put his hand down, squeezing the gun, so that the guy couldn’t get it. He stop struggling, took out the machete and sliced my friend’s throat. He collapsed and the guy took the gun and he ran down the street.”

The man believed to be the shooter didn’t get far, however. The suspect lives in the neighbourhood and was quickly apprehended by police. He is expected to be formally charged on Tuesday. Kingsford Obeng clung to life until around 8:30 Sunday morning, when he died following surgery at the KHMH. For John Baptist the murder wounded him deeply on both the professional and personal levels.

John Baptist

“Well I feel a little bit scared. But with the sight of God, I still got a strong heart stand up and face it. For my friend died here and I still have the heart to stand up here and get the job finished, as God provides.”