Construction worker killed in Belize City

John Myers

Two men were killed today; one in the city and the other in Belmopan. In the city, a construction worker was found dead outside a small shop on Mahogany Street. It has not yet been determined if it is a case of murder or, alternatively manslaughter. But John Myers is believed to have died from a blow to the head. News Five’s Andrea Polanco reports.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

A small portion of the Mahogany Street was cordoned off with yellow tapes, as police officers processed the scene where fifty-two year old John Myers was found slumped in a seated position, in a corner on the perimeter of a small snack shop.

Raphael Martinez

According to police, Myers was involved in an altercation with another man who punched him in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head. The incident happened shortly before ten this morning:

Raphael Martinez, Ministry of Police and Security

“Reportedly, John Russell Myers was involved in an altercation with a male person and he reportedly got hit and fell and hit his head. Police have since detained one person in connection with the Death of Myers pending further investigation.”

Andrea Polanco

“Can you tell us if he was hit in the head with an object?”

Raphael Martinez

“It is reportedly, alleged that he received a punch to the face and that caused him to fall and that fall made him hit his head and that apparently was the cause of his fatal injury.”

Andrea Polanco

“Investigations have revealed what was the nature of the altercation?”

Raphael Martinez

“No ma’am, not at this time.”

Andrea Polanco

“Has it een confirmed if either of the two men were drinking?”

Raphael Martinez

“Has not been confirmed so far.”

Jocelyn Lamb

The family believes Myers died as result of the direct blow to the head. They say this isn’t the first time that he was at the receiving end, but today, it turned fatal:

Jocelyn Lamb, Sister of the Deceased

“Deh say every time my bredda go outta di place out deh, that dah the one same young man weh always beat ah up. And he reply afta when he done hurt my bredda today, ih say weh he do dah weh he fi mi do long time. That means he fi mi kill ah long time cause dah he bring ah yah suh dah he fi mi kill ah. We nuh know. Everybody di tell we deh knock ah with something but deh nuh tell we dah weh deh knock ah with and he travel with a pressure.”

Andrea Polanco

“So you believe he died as result of that immediate blow?”

Jocelyn Lamb

“Yeah, right afta dah blow weh deh give ah, ih dead and he neva dead right away. Ih tek wah lee while and then ih dead because when I come out deh, deh say ih just dead.”

The perpetrator of the crime is a relative:

Therese Lamb

Therese Lamb, Daughter of the Deceased

“Well, as far as my family knows that that was a person who usually beat him up so I just want him to come forward and say what he did.”

Andrea Polanco

“And that individual is someone you all know as well?”

Therese Lamb

“Yeah, it’s one of our family.”

Andrea Polanco

“Meaning he’s a relative?”

Therese Lamb

“Yeah, he is a relative.”

As they grieve, the Myers family is upset and in shock because John was killed on his daughter’s birthday.

Jocelyn Lamb

“Well, my bredda death comes like a shock to me because we wouldn’t believe he gone outta di house and wouldn’t come back because that dah wah senseless killing. Deh neva have to do that to my bredda.”

Therese Lamb

“I was so angry, I was so upset, knowing that someone could just take my father’s life like that. He was a loving father and what really shocked me is that they took his life on my sister’s birthday. He was at the Chinee man waiting for my sister to go to school so that he could wish her happy birthday.”

Jocelyn Lamb

“Well one thing, I got fi say, and I wah say it to ah. Yuh tek wah father, yuh tek weh wah pa, yuh tek weh wah grandpa, yuh tek weh somebody good fah wi.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Andrea Polanco.