Suspected robber charged for hold-up at Senor Coconuts

Ernest Billary

Just after two on Friday, Senor Coconuts, which is approximately two blocks away from the Queen Street Police Station was targeted by armed robbers. The traumatized cashier, thirty-nine year old Veronica Tillett, told News Five that the robbers entered the establishment posing as customers and asked for the menu. After ordering something to drink, one of the men pulled out a black handgun and placed it to the left side of Tillett’s head demanding money. The other unarmed assailant then grabbed her niece by the neck and robbed her of her a cellular phone valued at three hundred and fifty dollars. Police constable Freddy Heredia, who was in the area and heard the commotion, pulled out his license firearm and fired a single shot in the air.  The robber then fired a shot at him but missed. That bullet exited through the glass door of the restaurant.  The men then ran out of the restaurant on Eve Street—one dashed through Mortuary Lane while the other walked on to Queen Street. Heredia set chase and nabbed one of the robbers identified as Ernest Billary, in front of Petticoat Alley. Billary was subdued and taken into police custody while the other suspect escaped. Moments after the incident, Tillett recounted for News Five off camera the traumatic encounter. And while police are looking for the second suspect, Tillett said that the incident has left them feeling insecure.

Voice of: Employee of Senor Coconuts [File: July 20, 2012]

“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…”

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

Fitzroy Yearwood

“This man took out a black in color handgun, placed it to the left side of her head and demanded money. This man then took away her cell phone and other personal effects; her chain that was around her neck. Upon leaving this establishment, a concerned citizen realized that this place was being robbed and he fired a shot injuring one Ernest Billary, twenty years, who is detained pending the outcome of the investigation for this same incident.”

Duane Moody [File: July 20^th, 2012]

“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.”

Billary, a handyman of Hibiscus Street in Belize City, was arraigned just after twelve this afternoon in the court of Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart. He was charged with six offenses: one count of Robbery, two counts of Aggravated Assault upon Veronica Tillett and Police Constable Freddy Heredia, one count of Wounding and two firearm related offenses for allegedly being found in possession of a nine millimeter Smith & Wesson weapon. Billary pleaded not guilty to all charges, but was denied bail and remanded to the Belize Central Prison until August thirtieth.