Cotton Tree man is murdered after girlfriend splits

Police have another murder to solve, this time in the village of Cotton Tree where a Salvadoran national was shot to death and robbery may not be the only motive. Just before his death, the man was seen drinking with friends at his home and earlier in the day his girlfriend walked out on him following a domestic squabble. News Five’s Marion Ali reports from Cotton Tree.

Marion Ali, Reporting
Twenty-nine year old Rony Aguilar was shot several times in thick bushes just a few hundred yards from his home in Cotton Tree Village around three-thirty on Thursday afternoon. The Salvadoran national died at the scene from gunshot wounds to the face, right side of neck, chin, and right side of the shoulder.

Investigators say Aguilar was at his house drinking with another villager, Esau Perez, from around two-thirty in the afternoon. But the chain of events thereafter is still unclear and while cops believe the slaying was related to illicit activity, the victim was also robbed.

Corporal Alma Mortis, Lead Investigator
“We believe that it is drug-related.”

Marion Ali
“I understand too that some jewelry that he had on him were missing.”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“That is right. We received information that the male person had two gold chains on him along with and un-established amount of cash, a red in color LG cellphone which, at this point in time is missing.”

Marion Ali
“Okay, who would want him dead and you said it’s drug related but who? Was it someday from the village, do you have any suspects?”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“Well, at this point in time, yes we do have a suspect and we are investigating this matter. It’s an open investigation and we are asking the public to please come forward if they have any information regarding the case.”

Marion Ali
“This suspect, is he form the same Cotton Tree Village?”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“Yes, he is from Cotton Tree Village.”

While police have detained a fellow villager and are looking for another, they are also trying to figure out whether an argument with Aguilar’s girlfriend and/or a previous fight some time ago with another man were linked to his killing.

Voice of Neighbour
“He had a couple enemy dat broke his hand and fight wid him but I really don’t know the guys or I don’t know.”

Marion Ali
“How long ago he got his hand broken?”

Voice of Neighbour
“I think like a month ago.”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“At the time he lived with a female but we understand they had a slight argument and she left that morning. We do not have her name and we’re looking for her at this time.”

Marion Ali
“Might that argument have anything to do with his murder?”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“I cannot say so ma’am.”

Marion Ali
“I understand also that he was in a fight about a month ago; one of his arms was broken. Do you think that was linked to the murder as well?”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“So far I have not received any information in regards to that so I cannot say that that is linked to this murder.”

Aguilar’s neighbour, who requested anonymity, heard the shots.

Voice of Neighbour
“Yesterday I see like couple with him drinking and stuff. I don’t know dehn guys, first time I si dem.”

Marion Ali
“This was right at his house right?”

Voice of Neighbor
“Yes.”

Marion Ali
“And then the gunshots happened a few hundred yards away from his house. You know what he was doing in that area? He always go there—some high bushes?”

Voice of Neighbor
“I’ll be honest, I don’t know. People say he go there to hunting or something like that. I don’t know but one ah my friend seh dat she saw him going towards the bush and afterwards she heard three shots. I see a guy run by, came back and I see couple ladies running around.”

Marion Ali
“Okay, but weh pah di guy run; from where to where?”

Voice of Neighbor
“I see from the same guy house to di bush. He went there and came back I don’t know what time, then I see people running forwards and like that.”

Marion Ali
“Okay you heard three shots you say.”

Voice of Neighbor
“Three shots.”

Marion Ali
“Okay, and this was before or after you saw the guy run?”

Voice of Neighbor
“After the guy run in back home. It was like a creole guy.”

Marion Ali
“Do you think this person was waiting for him in the bushes or followed him there? What happened you think?”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“That could be the case. We are still investigating that matter. Yes, we have received such information and that matter is being investigated.”

Marion Ali
“Such information that …”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“That you just said.”

Marion Ali
“That he was followed or that …”

Cpl. Alma Mortis
“No, not that he was followed, that he went to the area where he was found and that one or more persons may have been waiting for him in that area.”

Police are asking the residents of Cotton Tree to come forward with information and help them solve this latest killing in their village. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.

Up to news time no charges have been brought against the suspect in custody and the search for another villager is ongoing.