Robbery turns to murder at Lily’s store in San Ignacio

2009 is only five days old and already the murder trend is matching last year’s record high. On January third, tragedy visited a family in San Ignacio Town just as they were about to close for business shortly before nine that night. It’s an all too familiar story… yet another attack on a Belizean family working to earn a living and hit by robbers who wanted cash. Marion Ali reports from San Ignacio.

Marion Ali, Reporting
Glady’s Grocery Shop at sixteen Teodoso Ochoa Street in San Ignacio was closed for business today with the symbol of a family in grief, a small altar and picture frame at the spot where their loved one, twenty-seven year-old Belizario Eck Junior was senselessly gunned down.

The incident occurred around eight-forty five on Saturday night just minutes before the Eck family was preparing to close for the day. Mother of the deceased, Lilia Eck, explained how the attackers struck.

Lilia Eck, Mother, Murder victim
“I was sitting right here. Around eight-forty-five my husband was standing in front of me and two young fellows came in with mask and covered their face and put a gun at my husband’s head.”

That was how it started, but no one imagined that the apparent hold-up would end in murder.

Marion Ali
“Reports indicate that Belizario Eck Junior had just entered through the back door and was headed to this cooler to get a soft drink when he stumbled upon the armed robbery. He tried to come to his father’s assistance but seconds later, after a struggled ensued, a fatal shot went off and Belizario Eck Junior died moments later.”

San Ignacio police have acted on early leads which have resulted in the detention of three suspects. While they cannot reveal the identities of two of them until the investigation is complete, they have issued the picture of nineteen Jarod Lamb Arthurs, who also goes by the alias, “Steel Babb”. Police say that while he may have been a suspect in this murder, Lamb is believed to have been the mastermind behind a number of other offenses in the twin towns and will face a series of robbery and burglary charges.

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade, O.C., San Ignacio Police
“I’m aware of an individual who was wanted by the police for some time; for nine months and there was an incident yesterday where he was captured in San Ignacio and he was injured in his leg by a police officer when they captured him.”

Jacqueline Godwin, Channel Seven
“Do you believe he may have been involved in this incident?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade
“I am not certain. I am not certain.”

Marion Ali
“Do you believe that any of the detainees were involved in a previous robbery at another business related to this family?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade
“It is possible that they may be involved in other incidents and that is the reason why we are looking at all angles. We are questioning them to see if they were involved in any other incidents that may have occurred here in San Ignacio.”

Marion Ali
“Have any of them confessed?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade
“I cannot comment on that at this point in time. I don’t have any concrete information that any of them have confessed to anything. I am certain one of them is linked to the case. I am certain and we are looking for one another person who we believe is connected to the case as well.”

Eck says that the family’s two dogs were in the shop, namely, Striker and Taliman, and their instincts played a part in warding off the attackers.

Lilia Eck
“They started the struggle with the gun and the two dogs were biting them so they decided to go. So my son just did like this going behind them, then I hear a boom and my son shouted that they shot him. He drop right there face down.”

But while the brazen thieves shot Eck Junior, they still did not manage to steal anything before they fled, perhaps for two reasons, the dogs which they did not anticipate would fend them off, and also because they had partners in crime awaiting them.

Lilia Eck
“I think that they just get frightened by the two dogs. I think that’s why they couldn’t ask for the money. According to the neighbours, dehn seh dat he ran in the alley and they had a taxi waiting for them in the next street; that is Philip Goldson Street.”

Marion Ali
“In this particular case, I know you said that the investigation is still ongoing. But in this particular case, we received information that there might have been a car waiting at the back. Do you think that these robbers were studying the movements of this family and were waiting for the appropriate time to pounce?”

Sr. Supt. Paul Wade
“It’s possible and we have similar information that a car is involved. As a matter of fact, we have a car impounded at the station.”

But while this was the first time that Gladys Shop has been targeted, Eck says thieves have attacked them before and another of her sons was robbed about three months ago at another family establishment. And for businesspeople whose movements might be monitored by criminals, Officer Commanding the San Ignacio formation, Sr. Superintendent Paul Wade sends this advice.

Sr. Supt., Paul Wade
“You have to be careful at all times because yes, those are the times these criminals would want to take the opportunity to rob because they know that at the end of the day, they have the opinion that those things are there. So you have to be more vigilant and if you see something suspicious call the police immediately so that we can respond. As I said, it is difficult to cover every business establishment but we are doing the best that we can and we’ll continue to do this.”

Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.

While police look for the fourth suspect, the Eck family prepares to bury the second murder victim for 2009.