Robbery ends fatally for Big Falls resident
The weekend’s first homicide occurred in Big Falls Village in Toledo around seven o’clock on Saturday night when a single gunshot shattered the quiet of the night. It was the shot that ended the life of a well known businessman during an armed hold up at his store which is also houses his family home. The brazen thieves also attacked the rest of the family and ransacked the shop before leaving. Marion Ali travelled south for the details today.
Marion Ali
“Sixty-four year old Francis Johnston and his son, Andy had just finished unloading drinks and were preparing to close their store, Johnston’s One Stop, here on the Big Falls Road when three men, wearing masks and bearing guns accosted them. The men demanded money. But when the response to them was “We have none”, that was when mayhem broke lose. They struggled with Johnston’s wife, Amelia, hit his son Andy in the head with a bottle, and shot Johnston in the abdomen. That shot was fatal. But that was not all. The men then stole the family’s vehicle and escaped towards Jalacte Village.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
Johnston’s wife, Amelia relived the terrible ordeal.
Amelia Johnston, Wife of Deceased
“I hear something like some horses running. When I turn around to look towards the road I saw three guys running straight up to us and one of them run straight to me and grabble me. When that one grabble me, the next one run straight into the building and they had firearms and I could see when they point the firearm to my husband and tell him “Freeze”, we want the money. Dat time me and the one outside began to fight and I struggle and struggle til I got away. I don’t know how I got away.”
It was while Amelia was seeking help at her next door neighbour that she heard the shot that killed her husband.
Amelia Johnston
“When I was talking to the police over the phone I hear BAM. The load went off.”
Shelvin Chee, who was at home right next door to the Johnston’s, heard one of the attacker’s voice. He and Amelia are convinced that the thieves are Belizeans.
Shelvin Chee, Neighbour of Robbery Victims
“We hear wah man seh eena Kriol “Yoh di go di wrong way, drive good before I shoot yoh.”
Amelia Johnston
“The obscene language they used to me, the one who was fighting with me – he seh “Come inside the house yoh mada f****!” That’s a dead Belizean.”
When the robbers left, Amelia went back to discover that her husband, Francis, was critically wounded.
Amelia Johnston
“When I run back home I found my husband lying on the floor already. They shoot him and he couldn’t say a word to me anymore. According to the doctor before we reach my husband died on the way coming to the hospital. They took all the money out ah di house, which I don’t even have an estimation at this moment. They beat up my son, they took his wallet, his gold chain valued over two thousand dollars. They wrench off his gold bracelet valued about five or six hundred dollars and they took his wallet with all his money too. I don’t know all what they took because they empty all the salt over the floor and used the bags to take things. I don’t know all what they took.”
Punta Gorda police have not yet made any arrests but are following a few leads. They recovered the stolen vehicle on the Jalacte Road and have now impounded it for evidence gathering. Marion Ali for News Five.
This was the fourth time that the Johnstons have been attacked. If the name Francis Johnston rings a bell that’s because he was the man who was in a legal conflict with the Maya Leaders Alliance over farmland. We’ll have more details of that story from his wife Amelia later on in this newscast.
