Eufemio Garcia is Gunned Down in Yo Creek; 3 Others are Injured
Eufemio Garcia
It’s not often that we report on crimes in the north, but on Saturday night, a man was murdered in Yo Creek Village, in Orange Walk District. Eufemio Garcia was among four persons that got shot while in front of a store in the village. Garcia died on the spot while three others were rushed to the K.H.M.H. and lived to tell the tale. News Five’s Duane Moody headed north today and found out that just months ago, Garcia was targeted by a shooter at his home in the village, but he survived that attempt on his life. This time, however, he was not fortunate.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Today it was business as usual at Lalu Store in Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk District. But on Saturday night, it was the scene of a shooting incident that claimed the life of Eufemio Garcia and left three other persons injured. It occurred around 10:30 p.m.
Fitzroy Yearwood
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department
“They saw the motionless body of Eufemio Garcia, thirty-eight years labourer of Yo Creek Village, lying face up in a pool of blood. Initial investigation revealed that Mister Garcia went to that store along with three other men to make a purchase when a lone shooter attacked him and open fire in his direction mainly. The other persons that were with him got gunshot-related injuries, but were transported to the Northern Regional Hospital for treatment.”
Also injured in the shooting were Brandon Garcia, Alder Valencia and Pedro Garcia. News Five spoke with Pedro’s family today as they waited outside the Northern Regional Hospital compound. According to them, the doctors are saying that a gunshot injury he received to the lower back is very likely to leave the sixty-year-old paralyzed from the waist down. We caught up with twenty-six-year-old Valencia at his home. He got shot to the left hand and right shoulder and recounts what happened. Contrary to the police report, Valencia says that the shooter was the passenger on a motorcycle.
Alder Valencia
Alder Valencia, Shooting Victim [Translated]
“We were at the Chinese store drinking beers when a motorcycle passed by. We didn’t recognise anyone, they just rode pass, firing shots. We were just there drinking when suddenly we hear the shots. I run and hid behind a pickup so that the bullets don’t keep hitting me. I stayed crouching. They continued shooting and I was scared. We didn’t see who they were because they were all masked and we didn’t know what kind of cycle or anything. They drove passed, turned around and didn’t stop at all. It was only one motorcycle, but there were two of them. They shot Fem first – the guy that died, he was the one that got shot first. He fell to the ground and then when we felt that we got shot as well, we ran for cover. When I looked back I saw the man’s uncle was lying on the ground. He’s in the hospital right now – he was shot to the back.”
About three months ago, back in October of 2022, Garcia was the victim of a shooting at his home in the village. He was shot multiple times, including the legs, but survived that attack and has only just recently recovered and was outside. So who could have wanted him dead and why? A motive has not been established for either incident.
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
“The motive has not been established, but we cannot say that it was gang-related either.”
Reporter
“Any suspects at this time?”
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
“Well we are searching for one person that the police believe would be able to assist in this investigation.”
Reporter
“Sir is this the same Eufemio Garcia who was shot to the back in a home intrusion in October of 2022?”
Eufemio Garcia
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
“Yes this is that same person. Our investigators believe that the shooter might have been from the previous reported incident. So, like I said, for us to establish the true motive, then we would know exactly what took place out there.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
