Robbers waited for tourists but got shot by hunters

Another robber met his match in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye when two hunters stopped him dead in his tracks. The hunters were returning home when they ran into a road block set up by two robbers in a poorly lit area, north of the island. The robbers pulled out a handgun and were surprised when the hunters opened fire. News Five’s Jose Sanchez was in La Isla Bonita and has this report.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

A shooting in the Tres Cocos area after ten on Saturday night resulted in the death of a San Pedro resident.  According to the first officer on the scene, Sergeant Ernel Dominguez, two hunters were returning from the north end of the island on their golf cart when they encountered an illegal road block.

Sergeant Ernel Dominquez, San Pedro Police

“We were made to understand that two hunters coming from way up north and when they reached in that area they encountered or came across what would be considered as a road block. And when they were about to cross, they observed two male person who came out from the left hand side of the road travelling from north to south direction within a distance of about ten feet.  And they were both masked and apparently one of them said this is a hold up, something to that affect and they got attention of the hunters.  They saw one of them with a chrome handgun and they responded by firing a shot each in the direction. One of them fatally wounded one of the masked men.”

The masked man who was killed, did not die on impact. Twenty-one year old Leon Aldana, an unemployed man from the San Pedrito Area, dropped his gun, and staggered off the road through some bushes and onto the beach where he collapsed and succumbed to his wounds.

Jose Sanchez

“The hunters, was there something, a specific time, a regular schedule that they kept that these guys would have known they were returning with firearms?”

Sgt. Ernel Dominguez

Sgt. Ernel Dominguez

“I wouldn’t know but I know usually these hunters, normally on weekend, they would venture up that area to hunt. I could remember on more than one occasion meeting them coming down or going up using the same route.”

Jose Sanchez

“It seems like self defense, would there be any charges against them? Are they locals or foreigners?”

Sgt. Ernel Dominguez

“At this time they wouldn’t be able to elaborate on that. We will prepare the file and forward it to the Director of Public Prosecutions. They have the authority to make that decision.”

Jose Sanchez

“Were you able to ascertain how many shots were fired by the robbers and by the hunters?”

Sgt. Ernel Dominguez

“Well, from according to the information received from the hunters there were no shots fired from the robbers, however, both of the hunters, they fired a shot each in the direction of the masked men”

Jose Sanchez

“What kind of weapon did they have?”

Sgt. Ernel Dominguez

“One had an automatic twelve gauge and the other had a sixteen gauge single action.”

Sergeant Dominguez says that Leon Aldana was well known to the police. And though his accomplice escaped they are looking for his associates.

Jose Sanchez

“The other masked man, were you able to identify who that is?”

Sgt. Ernel Dominguez

“At present no, we don’t know who that other person is but apparently the other managed to get away from the area.”

Jose Sanchez

“Are you aware of any conspirators he would be working with when he’d be committing crimes?

Sgt. Ernel Dominguez

“Presently, we may have an idea but at present I am not in a position to disclose that because I am certain who specifically would have been with him committing those crimes.”

Jose Sanchez

“The roadblock itself, were there any other people who encountered this roadblock or reported being robbed?”

Sgt. Ernel Dominguez

“We haven’t gotten any other reports of the roadblock until after we received the first information, when proceeding there were calls reaching in from the station saying that there is an alleged roadblock in the same area.”

Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.