3 Persons Injured in Burrell Boom Shooting; the Gunman is Killed
Verris Ventura
There was a fatal shooting in Burrell Boom Village on Sunday night that left one man dead and three others injured. But at this time, it is not being categorised as a murder, but rather a death investigation because the deceased, a father of three from Reggae Street, is believed to have been the gunman in the incident. According to the police, the fatal shooting stems from an argument that occurred earlier that night at a dance in Burrell Boom Village and while a trio from Double Head Cabbage was heading home, they came under gunfire from someone inside an SUV that drove up beside them. A coastguard returned fire and struck their assailant in the face. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Two of three persons remain hospitalised at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, following a shooting in Burrell Boom on Sunday night. Lee Busano, Tanisha Banner and Chesterfield Baptist were travelling towards Double Head Cabbage when a red SUV reportedly drove up beside them and fired several shots in their direction. All three were injured, but Busano, who carried a licensed nine millimetre gun, returned fire, fatally injuring Verris Ventura.
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department
“Some form of argument happened between Lee Busano, a thirty-five year old Coast Guard, and Verris Ventura of a Belize City Reggae Street address. They are saying that Busano along with his two friends, occupants in his vehicle left from a dance in Burrell Boom and getting less than a mile from that area – he was heading to we believe one of the villages in the Belize River Valley area – he was approached by Verris Ventura in a red SUV. The witnesses are saying that Ventura opened fire on the vehicle that Busano and the other two occupants, Tanisha Banner and Chesterfield Baptist, were in. And when he opened fire, of course Mister Busano has a licensed firearm, and in responding to the fire that he was brought under, he fired several shots towards Ventura’s vehicle.”
The family told News Five that Busano and Banner simply travelled to Burrell Boom to pick up someone, and were not attending the event that was taking place in the village. Busano has since been released and is in Double Head Cabbage recovering. His girlfriend, Tanisha Banner, remains in a critical condition on a ventilator. Ventura, mortally wounded from a gunshot to the face, was transported to the K.H.M.H. in the same red SUV that was used in the attack on Busano and his passengers. The driver of the red SUV reportedly sped off from the hospital. Police say Ventura was pronounced dead sometime after one o’clock this morning.
Fitzroy Yearwood
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
“We know that Mister Busano and the other occupants of his vehicle were transported to the K.H.M.H. where a red SUV arrived a few minutes later with Verris Ventura in it who had serious body injuries, several gunshot wounds. Mister Ventura unfortunately lost his life whilst undergoing treatment at the K.H.M.H.”
While Banner’s family was too distraught to speak with us, we did manage to get an interview with Ventura’s girlfriend, who says that she was shocked by the news of his death. Shamira Thurton says that it was unlike Ventura not to be home last night and that she is heartbroken by his death.
Shamira Thurton
Voice of: Shamira Thurton, Girlfriend of Deceased
“The way how dehn bring ahn out dah di morgue, I neva really see ih face but I know he from upside down, anywhere. I know that dah mi he. But from the picture I see, one gunshot under ih eye.”
Duane Moody
“You said he didn’t come home last night, but did he say where he was going or anything like that? Or who he was with?”
Voice of: Shamira Thurton
“No he didn’t say. Cause we mi deh yah good one. I mi di watch Passions and he mi di play free fire on his phone. And then I bathe and gone by my granny. This dah like after nine and usually I know “Skull” done deh home. But when I reach yah, I dah like what the hell. But I know dehn mi di have something at the club too so I say maybe dah deh ih deh. So when I come back I finish watch my episode. When I watch the time dah after twelve and I say this dah noh like he cause even though dehn have thing dah di club, he come home.”
So what happens in a case like this where the alleged assailant is killed?
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
“I did not say murder investigation, I said investigation of a death. One Miss Banner is still critical at the K.H.M.H. From the eyewitnesses report, it would suggest that initial contact was made by Ventura. Unfortunately for Ventura, Mister Busano had a licensed gun which he used. So at the completion of the investigation we will submit the file to the D.P.P. and will be guided from that office as to what, if any charges will be levied.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
