Roy Lee Young executed in St. Matthews Village

Roy Lee Young

An execution-style murder has shocked the village of St Mathews on the George Price Highway. Roy Lee Young had a survived a previous attempt on his life but on Sunday night, he was fatally shot in the head as he sat on the verandah of a community shop, socializing with friends. About an hour before he was murdered on Sunday night, he had left his house along with three friends: that is the last time his grieving mother saw him alive. But who would want him dead? News Five’s Isani Cayetano headed west and has this report.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Thirty-two year old Roy Lee Young, a resident of St. Matthew’s Village, was shot and killed outside of El Pedrigal’s sometime after eight o’clock on Sunday night, while socializing with patrons of the business.  Young was reportedly seated facing the establishment when he was blindsided by a gunman who fired a single round into the back of his head.  His mother was already in bed when she was notified of the fatal shooting.

Voice of: Beverly Gillette, Mother of Roy Lee Young

“I undastand dat he mi deh down by di bar by mile thirty-eight and deh just cohn give me wah message dat dehn shot ahn down deh, fi what reason I don’t know.  I don’t know and I find out when I gone down deh dat ih neva have no problem with nobody, no argument, nothing, nothing.”

Despite not having problems with anyone at El Pedrigal, Young’s fate was sealed in blood, presumably by someone with whom he may have had a previous altercation.  The bullet that mortally injured the father of three, it would seem, exited his skull and lodged just above this window.  Police Press Officer Raphael Martinez:

Raphael Martinez

Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer

“The initial investigations revealed that Young was sitting on the verandah of that shop with his back towards the street when, apparently, there was a single gunshot fired that caused his fatal injury.  Young was transported to the Western Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.”

An official inquiry into the incident has revealed that Young was attacked when vulnerable.  His mother, nonetheless, disputes the account that he was shot while seated.   She believes that he was simply placed in this chair after being shot in the head.

Voice of: Beverly Gillette

“How I sih ahn when I reach down deh ih sihdown eena di chair wid ih back turn towards di road and dehn seh dah eena ih head ih get shot because I can hold up mi fi sih di shot.  Dehn seh eena ih head ahn eena ih back but how I di see it my son neva sihdown ahn get shot.  He stand up da di bar because di bar have wah counter, he stand up deh and dehn shot ahn and I believe dah somebody put ahn eena di chair and sihdown because he get shot and nobody noh wah deh round fi get hurt and dehn seh di bar mi crowded wid people.”

Belmopan police have, thus far, detained several individuals in connection with Young’s murder.  According to his mother, Roy Lee was last seen leaving his residence, adjacent to their family home, in the presence of three men shortly after seven o’clock that night.

Raphael Martinez

“Police have since detained six persons whom they believe can assist with this investigation.”

Roy Lee, his mother says, was shot earlier this year on Good Friday.  She believes that he may have been pursued by the same nemesis.

Voice of: Beverly Gillette

“Dis year April ya now dehn shot ahn eena ih foot again and dat mek ih couldn’t get up ahn walk or anything.  Ih mih hospitalized and from dat now ih suppose to mih tek wahn learning ah wah lesson that ih done know danger mih deh down dah road.  Ih shouldn’ta mih gone back down deh and we talk to ahn, we advise ahn but he always show ihself dat he dah he one, ih noh got no big bredda and he noh wah mek people chance ahn and he show dehn dat he no fraid fi dehn.  Di only way dehn could ketch ahn da like dis.”

Reporting for news Five, I am Isani Cayetano.