Home Invasion Has Santa Barbara Family Scared
A family in Belize City was stunned to be held up at gunpoint in their own home. Not only is the culprit someone they know, but it is something the woman of the house, went out of her way to help in times of need. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A weekend home invasion on Santa Barbara Street in Belize City has left a family traumatized and one man behind bars. Lucilla Leslie is a baker who sells bread and bun for a living. On Sunday night when she came outside she was met by a gunman in her yard. The gun man who Leslie recognized as someone from the community she regularly assists with food, forced her back inside her house at gun point.
Lucilla Leslie
Lucilla Leslie, Home Invasion Victim
“Suh I gawn inside with the gun behind me back. And when I gawn inside my gentleman the inside the chair the sit down. I seh Paul this young man the come. Suh, like he nuh mih the hear me. Suh I say Paul, Paul, Paul and when he get up the young man seh I want the money. I she we nuh got no money. Afta that he mih the talk to my gentleman and tell ah bout the same money thing. And he tek the gun and duh suh, bow. And when you look yo sih blood.”
Voice of: Paul Leslie, Home Invasion Victim
“Right away the gun man took the money from off my wife and pointed it to me. He she weh part the money money deh. I say which money yo the talk about big man, we nuh have no money we the struggle. I nuh have no money. Right there and then ih stuck me in my head with the weapon caused a serious injury to my head. He continues demanding where the money deh and I told him that we nuh have no money. From deh ih tek the gun, crank it and put one dah the head. Look like ih mih serious. Suh I tell ah please nuh shoot mih, nuh tek mih life. Ah nuh have no money but I have mih phone.”
The culprit proceeded to pocket Leslie’s phone. He then went to Leslie’s fifteen-year-old son’s bedroom where he allegedly pointed the weapon at the minor and stole his phone. The gunman then ordered Paul Leslie to open one of the drawers in the room to search for additional items. According to Leslie, he then made good his escape through the front gate with over fourteen hundred dollars in valuables. For the Leslie family, this invasion of their home comes as a shock because the alleged perpetrator has received assistance from them on several occasion.
Paul Lopez
“Did he refer to you all by your names?”
Lucilla Leslie
“He calls my husband name, and he call my son name. And we know ih voice. So, we know exactly. And ih hair mih the show and ih face. We know everything about ah. Ih whole face mih the show.”
Paul Lopez
“By the accounts I have heard about you, you are an honest hardworking woman that seeks to make your wage through humble means.”
Lucilla Leslie
“I dah wah person I do bread and bun by publics, favorites. I do my bread, bun johnny cakes. Sometimes he dah the out deh and he wah she Ms please for a shilling and Mr please for a shilling. I would a seh, bwaysih wah bun yah, sih wah bread yah. I never know he wah do mih this.”
Paul Lopez
“Do you believe that is what this culprit was after, the money from your sales?”
Lucilla Leslie
“Yeah, dah my money from my sales weh I mek, dah the money he mih want, and I tell ah I have no money.”
The Leslie family told News 5 that they no longer feel safe in their own home. Lucilla Leslie says she is hesitant to go back out to sell her bread and buns for fear that someone else may be watching her. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
