2 Belmopan residents knocked off motorcycle; 1 dead, 1 injured
Rudy Alexander Barillas Maroquin
In a spate of violent crimes that started twelve days ago on April fourth, a total of nine men have been murdered. Over the past weekend, the bloodshed continued with one murder in Belmopan and two in the City. The violence was not confined to murders; two persons were also shot in separate incidents, including a Chinese grocer. Saturday turned out to be particularly bloody and the first homicide occurred in the capital as early as five o’clock in the morning. News Five’s Delahnie Bain headed to Belmopan and files this report.
Delahnie Bain, Reporting
One man was killed and another was injured when they were knocked off a motorcycle early on Saturday morning in Belmopan. But it was not a traffic accident; the deceased, Rudy Alexander Barillas Maroquin, was the victim of a senseless murder. The series of events that led to the murder started at La Cabana Night Club where thirty-four year old Roberto Galdamez reportedly fired an unlicensed pistol. Maroquin and Teul were not involved in the shooting, but soon found themselves in trouble.
Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
“Early Saturday morning, it is alleged that, Roberto Galdamez was seen firing what appeared to be a nine millimeter in front of La Cabana Bar. He drove off in a blue van, went to wake up one of his friends, Rudy Maroquin and Mr. Teul. He asked Teul to conceal the weapon for him because he didn’t have a license for that weapon of which he complied and hid it not too far from his residence. It appeared that some time later that morning, Galdamez returned and demanded that they hand over his firearm to him. They didn’t.”
After Galdamez left Teul’s house, Maroquin accompanied Teul on a motorcycle to the area where he had hidden the weapon and Galdamez followed them.
Fitzroy Yearwood
Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
“The two guys, Maroquin and went to look for the firearm. It is alleged that when they were leaving because they didn’t find the firearm, they were leaving that area. They saw the blue van coming in a ball of speed behind them. They tried to divert off the main street, but Mr. Galdamez allegedly ran and hit the motor bike where both men fell to the ground and he drove over Rudy Maroquin.”
Teul was injured on the hands, chest and forehead while Maroquin died of severe head and body injuries. Maroquin, a Guatemalan national, recently moved to Belize and didn’t have any relatives with him, but his friends considered him family and are devastated by his death.
Voice of: Friend of Murder Victim
“Alex is a good person, he noh give problem. I noh know why they have to hurt he or murder he like this.”
Delahnie Bain
“So he didn’t have any kind of trouble with anyone?”
Voice of: Friend of Murder Victim
“He neva have any kind of trouble; he drive, he do ih work, ih friendly, ih kind to people. But I noh know what happened. Just that I could say that Alex is a good person, kind person. We took him like family because he neva have no family here. He is from Guatemala and I tek he like my brother.”
Galdamez is now in police custody, but has only been charged for firearm offences.
Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
“We know that Mr. Galdamez was charged because police eventually searched that area and found the firearm and the ammunition with an extended nine millimeter magazine. He was charged with that and he is still detained pending charges for the incident where Mr. Maroquin was ran over by the vehicle that he was allegedly driving.”
Voice of: Friend of Murder Victim
“The bible say what you do in this world you have to pay for it one day. I lef it eena God hand. He gone, we can’t do nothing but I lef it eena God hand and God wah si everything.”
Barillas’ body was transferred to Belize City this afternoon for a post mortem. Delahnie Bain for News Five.
Maroquin’s mother is in Belize to claim his body, but reports are that Galdamez’ family has offered her financial assistance and she may not press charges for his death. Teul has also indicated that if Maroquin’s mother drops the charges, he also will not pursue the matter in court.
And he walks free…
This is sad…..looks like money is worth more than a life. Ruthless.
That is no accident, that is murder and he should be charged with murder. if this man gets away with this, criminals out there will find a new way to get rid of their victims. Oops!! it was one accident and they will only be charge with driving without care and attention ect. pay a fine of $300.00 the most and a life goes away just like that.
Where could this have gone wrong?
1) I got an illegal weapon and I am drunk.
2) I am stupid enough to gun play with my illegal weapon in front of a bar.
3) I got some chumps I call friends, I will have them hold my illegal weapon.
4) My stupid chumps take my illegal weapon and hide it in the middle of the night, becoming criminals like me.
5) I am still drunk and want to gun play again before sunrise to impress someone.
6) Wake up chumps again, but chumps won’t give me back my illegal weapon when I want.
7) My chumps stupidly go look for my illegal weapon they hid in bush, and I follow them in a big van.
8) My stupid chumps can’t find my illegal weapon, but I don’t know that.
9) I run over my chumps to teach them lesson, and to get my illegal weapon back.
10) I kill one chump with my vehicle, but don’t get my illegal weapon back.
11) Police find my illegal weapon, and find me.
12) Now I have only one chump friend to bail me out of jail, but he in hospital.
13) Tomorrow I miss work, loose job, and miss my chump’s funeral.
14) Next day I loose my van, I loose freedom, I loose family, I loose my chumps.
15) Rest of life dead end wreck.
this was not just an accident. they have planned it already. we know who all planned this. i dont know why these stupid people hate pedro teul a lot. they hate him because he is a businessman. i dont want this murderer to be set free. there should be justice, caz i know that when you pay off police officers they certainly will set the murderer free. that is not right. something need to be done with these criminals.
the country of belize and the prime minister should enforce law that is more serious. these criminals should be punished.