Was Stephan Castillo’s Murder a Retaliation?

Stephan Castillo

Another Belize City youth has lost his life in Belize City. While police have not issued an official statement, area residents suspect it was a gang hit that may be connected to another recent killing.  News Five’s Andrea Polanco was on the scene today.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Nineteen-year-old Stephan Castillo was shot dead between two vehicles inside the yard of a mechanic and carwash business on Faber’s Road Extension in Belize City. The deadly shooting occurred despite a police sub-station just down the street.

Residents in the area say that after one-thirty this afternoon they heard more than a dozen gunshots ring out in the neighborhood. Some saw a vehicle drive by slowly in front of the carwash but then return. It was from inside that vehicle they claim the shooter or shooters fired the fatal shots.

Castillo was at this carwash this afternoon where he was fixing his motorcycle – still seen parked on the sidewalk where he left it. Eyewitnesses allege that Castillo ran for cover but he couldn’t escape.

As police processed the scene this afternoon spectators gathered. An hour later Castillo’s mom was spotted on the scene identifying her son’s body. She was overcome with grief and led away from the scene.

While residents say that Castillo frequents the area, they also claim that they don’t know much about his involvement in gangs– but suspect his murder is connected to the spate of violence in the city and may be a retaliation for recent murder of a gang member. Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.