Father of Three Murdered Days Before Christmas in Carmelita

Hugo Rodriguez

Days before Christmas, a two-months-old baby boy was left without a father following a murder in Carmelita Village, Orange Walk. Forty-five-year-old Hugo Rodriguez was fatally shot while returning home from a local shop on Sunday night. Rodriguez’s murder unfolded after an altercation at the store. Hipolito Novelo reports.

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

Baby Justin Daniel Rodriguez is almost two months old and hasn’t been registered- something that his father, forty-five-year-old Hugo Annibal Rodriguez, was going to do this week. It’s now left to the mother who was widowed on Sunday night. Rodriguez was walking on this unnamed street in Carmelita Village, Orange Walk, when he was shot multiple times. He was heading home after spending some time at this shop. His father-in-law told News Five that they found out of Rodriguez’s murder after eight o’clock that night.

Voice of: Father-in-law of Deceased

“It was like eight thirty in the night. We were at home. We had just returned from shopping when they called my son and we realized what had happened. We were at the shop at around seven o’clock. From there we came home and we don’t know, when we were called it had already happened. He came from his work at six o’clock.  From what I know, he didn’t really have any problems with anyone. We don’t know how it happened. I mean, he had his little problems, but who doesn’t. he used to go and take his beer, but I didn’t know he had any serious problem with anyone.”

At the scene, blood stains and expended shells remain.  Tonight, investigators continue to gather evidence with the hope of charging the culprits. So far, three men are in police custody. Witnesses say that Rodriguez got involved in an argument with the men while at the store. Threats were made and Rodriquez left. Investigators say he was followed and then murdered a few yards from his house.

Hilberto Romero

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“Investigations revealed that Hugo Rodfriguez went to a store where he an altercation with three male persons and thereafter he headed home. While entering his yard, that is where he was approached by two male persons on bicycles who fired the shot causing the fatal injuries. We have three persons in custody and they are being interviewed and the investigation continues. He went to the store, these three persons he met there and they had an altercation. We are trying find the motive. At some point he was followed when he went home. They knew each other yes.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.