Afternoon robbery at Senor Coconuts; 1 suspect is injured

There was a shooting at Senor Coconuts on Eve Street in Belize City just before three this afternoon; a suspected robber was injured in a foiled robbery attempt by armed bandits at the restaurant. According to employees, two men who posed as customers entered around two-forty-five asking for food. The two pulled out firearms and demanded money. Two employees escaped and ran for help while two others were held hostage at gunpoint. A neighboring businessman with a licensed firearm ran to assist the employees of Senor Coconuts and in the exchange of gunfire, one of the robbers was injured but he managed to escape through Mortuary Lane. An employee recounted for News Five the frightening ordeal. She says that the men were waiting for at least five minutes under a nearby mango tree before they entered the restaurant.

Voice of: Employee of Senor Coconuts

“Yes we were in the restaurant, we were having our lunch and we were just finish eating when the two guys came in by the door and they asked us for the menu. So we told them that we neva had no food. So this other guy asked my sister for a drink and my sister said we don’t have the cooler is locked. And then he turned around and the same time he turned around I see like he take out the gun. The same time he take out the gun he come towards me and put the gun on my head. I was so frightened; I didn’t know what to do. So my niece was sitting around the table with me and my niece she tell them what do you want. And he said give me your money and I said I noh have any money. So my niece tell the guy I have the phone here. And then I tell my niece go by the cashier and give him the money. And then my niece went by the cashier and they were trying to open the cashier, but the same time it couldn’t open. And the same time somebody outside of the restaurant; I noh know if they shoot wah shot or something and then the guy look like ih get frighten and then he move from around me and he come out through the door. And I noh know what else happen outside. We were just traumatized and this is really…”

Duane Moody

“Is this the first time something like this happened here?”

Voice of: Employee of Senor Coconuts

“First time this happen here and I just—I know what other people go through and this is really outta hand. This neva happen in this area and we really feel unsafe. Now I feel like you know, I deh ina this place and any time dehn could come and put wah gun pan me and just take my life like that. It’s unsafe; you don’t feel safe nowhere now in Belize.”

The injured robber allegedly escaped in a red vehicle while another, namely Ernest Billery was detained shortly after on Petticoat Alley with a nine millimeter pistol which is believed to have been used in the incident.