Man killed by three shots inside third floor apartment
Neville Thomas Jr.
Two persons were murdered over the weekend as a crime wave washed across the city spreading west to Roaring Creek. First we turn to Belize City, where the life of Neville Thomas Jr. was cut short early on Friday evening. He died instantly from the three shots fired by a lone gunman. Thomas, who is known as “Tete”, lived alone and peddled cell phones to earn a living. Family members living in the U.S. are coming home to bury their loved one. News Five’s Duane Moody has a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
It was not a traditional black bow that hung from the door to the apartment that was once occupied by Neville Thomas Junior. But at the exact spot where he died, a candle was lit to mourn his death. 
The fifty-three year old phone trader was inside his one bedroom home on the third floor of the apartment complex when a lone gunman knocked at the door and seconds later fired at least three shots hitting Thomas to the center of the head, the left chest and upper right arm. A neighbor who did wish to appear on camera says the shots rang out at about seven-thirty in the night.
Voice of: Witness
“My brother and my little sister were watching TV, my mom was in her room relaxing. They heard the gunshot and my brother and my sister they ran to the screaming and crying saying Tete, Tete. Exiting the backdoor they say Tete hand dropping down. They run through the front door and by the time they were at the front, a police and a B.D.F. were at the scene at the same time with my mom. Both my mom, my brother and my little sister saw Tete, Mister Thomas, lying on the ground. They started crying, screaming, they were traumatized and up to today they are still traumatized. That is what they experienced. They didn’t see anything; they only heard and by the time they opened the door they know that he was laying on the ground with bullet shots.”
But what was the motive behind the vicious murder of “Tete”, as he was affectionately known? Both friends and the police are baffled.
Voice of: Witness
“Tete was like a father to me and my two brothers and my mom like a brother to her because anytime we need anything from him—well concerning phones because he is a salesperson with phones, we go to him, to fix our phones, to exchange phones, to do anything with phones. We borrow scissors from him, tools or he borrows things from us.”
Clement Palacio, Police Press Officer
“There have been no arrests at the moment. Police have been questioning a number of suspects and at this time we cannot ascertain as to what could have been the motive.”
The quick response from the Police Department was due to a patrol that was in the area. Duane Moody, reporting for News Five.
Sad story. Will keep his family in prayers. He is also a U.S. Veteran, so hope he is recognized for his service to America. These are the folks that American never hears about. The Belizean-Americans who serve honorably.
Regards of the circumstance, my father did not deserve to be murdered!!
May god bless him.
This is a shock to me and my 3 children. Tete was not only my cousin , he was uncle T to my children. Like his daughter’s comments , he did not deserve to be murdered. He will be greatly missed. Condolences to daughter and the rest of his family. Can his daughter please call me at 718-253-9980 in New York.
Tete you were the last person i spoke to two weeks ago when i left belize i will missed you and the parrot and also cherrish the cd you gave me may god be with you cousin joannie
TO MY AUNT ROSE, I’M SORRY TETE IS GONE 🙁 TO ALL HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND DAUGHTER I KNOW IT’S HARD. TONIGHT I LOOKED UP HIS STORY AND TOLD MY MOM TO COME QUICK AND SHE BROKE DOWN. THIS IS SUCH A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. OUR FAMILY IS SO HEARTBROKEN. WE MISS U LOVE U. THIS WAS NOT THE WAY TO GO .THE MONSTER WHO DID THIS WILL NEVER SLEEP AT NIGHT NOR HAVE HAVE A CLEAR MIND.
LION u was a good person that did not diserve this. I will remember all the little things or little things that meant a lot the people who u were doing them for. Like walking Auntie Ann down to the bus terminal with her bags in your hand making sure she gets on the bus safely, u did many things like this, too much to mention and that is why we love you and will miss you.
LION, let it be known you have lots of friends and a huge family.
Uncle “T” will get full military honors. He served the U.S. Army and the country honorably. As a retired U.S. Marine I will make sure of it! Uncle T was very inspirational to me when I was a child. I still remember him giving me one of his medals when he returned from Germany to take my mind off of a bicycle injury.
While it is hard to hold the tears back, I will continue to smile and celebrate his life and reminisce of the good times we had..I know that’s how he would want it. He was a loving high spirited person and will be truly missed.
R.I.P Uncle T ….You will never be forgotten
Anthony
(Son-Bun)
LION, WE MISS U AND LOVE U
his wife Rose will miss him.The kids will miss him.
we all will miss u cousen may you rest in peace
love tyrone
I kno tete personaly,the last time i saw him is a long time ago when he was living in LA.I also kno the rest of his family like winston darell eyvonne an d the rest i am hurt to read this on bz news.Winston my prayes goes out to ur family,This is Harry from gales point, Tete and Winston teaches in gales point so i am sending my condolences on behalf of the people of gales point,
,
May peace be with u uncle T …. Granny rose, im sooo srry:(
ELVIA LOPEZ(COUSIN BETTY DAUGHTER FROM O.W) ME AND MY FAMILY SEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO TETES DAUGHTER AND THE TOMAS FAMILY HE WILL BE SADLY MISS.212-866-8055
I will missmy brother alot ,who ever did it will have to answer to God when the day comes my brother will be missed by all of us in the family, he always talk to people and treat them nice i will miss you te te love Carmen
I am so hurt we all pray for each other that God will gives us strenght to deal with this hurt how can someone take a person life like nothing, God will deal with this, te te we will miss you very much I am your oldest sister you know you always listen to me, may you rest in peace until judgement day comes love your sister Carmen in tn usa
This has ripped this family apart. Someone out there saw who killed my brother in cold blood, Please I beg you, go to the authorities and make a report. You cannot begin to know the pain we are feeling he should have been given the opportunity to defend himself—YOU COWARD. This was by brother for god’s sake. He has a family that loved him. You took a big part of us you bastard. ” ON BEHALF OF THE THOMAS FAMILY YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MOVE WITH ME………LOVE FOREVER YVONNE T THIS IS WHAT HE CALLED ME
ON BEHALF OF THE THOMAS FAMILY THANK YOU ALL FOR LOVING HIM< AND THANK YOU FOR LEAVING YOUR COMMENTS……. Yvonne
When my brother told me about Mr Winston murder,I was shocked. He taught me in Gales Poing Manatee, many, many years ago. He was such a loving, caring and understanding teacher. As the saying goes, only the good dies young. My condolences goes out to the Thomas Family during this difficulty time. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
Uncle T will be greatly missed. I had the priviledge of recently seeing him after many years had elasped. He had a chance to meet my huband and twin girls. It seemed just like yesterday when he gave me my first pager which was all the craze back in the early 90’s. He was such a kind and thoughtful man.
Granny Rose i am so sorry, my prayer is that the Lord will continue to uphold you and keep you. To his daughter, just know that i am praying for you and that God will see you through. To the Thomas family draw strength from the well that never runs dry and to all those that loved him please don’t let my uncle’s death be in vain. His death reminds me of the fragility of life. We must wear this earth like a loose garmet, knowing that some day soon Christ will come back again!
Unfortunately, his death shows us that we are living in the last days.(Matt 24). But know with full assurance that whoever committed this hedious crime will have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord” (Rom 12:19), God will take care of this matter in due time.
My name is Alexandra Cadle and i am Marva’s daughter. Uncle T leaves me and brother Vinnie and my sister Nicole with a lot of memories. The camping trips in New York, the fryjack fights, the blackcake and the Velvetta cheese concoction, I am so sad, my mother is heartbroken. MY CONDOLONCES TO THE FAMILY. This is so sad. Alicemay you want to see mini Marva look on facebook.
I Like this site your article is very nice , Thanks, very interesting article, keep up it coming 🙂
Tete was my personal friend like a big bro to me we use to hang out a lot always having good conversations and always advising people to live up righteousness. T will be remembered by everyone living on West st. and water lane especially by me and mines love always T from Zee and Pipi. Rest in peace and I know i will see you when the Father comes love always….