Did hard talk cause weekend murder?

The “M” in Monday could just as easily stand for murder as this is the day the nation usually receives the tragic details of whatever homicides occurred over the weekend. And today is no exception. Alyssa Noble reports on the latest fatal shooting on Belize City’s Central American Boulevard.

Shakira Jones, Sister of the deceased
?My bredda actually tek ih shirt off and put it behind the gunshot weh paat ih get shot. And ih mi di try walk home and ih look like ih mussy geh weak and ih drop right deh so.?

Alyssa Noble, Reporting
The blood stains on the ground are all that Bernard Petillo left behind as he tried desperately to keep himself alive. According to relatives, the twenty-two year old Petillo was on his way back home from buying cigarettes, when he received a single gun shot wound to the back of his head.

Shakira Jones
?All I know that ih mi di drink. And ih seh ih mi gwen go buy some cigarettes. And when ih gaan, ih just gaan, and the police come roun four. They came and ask we if we know Bernard Petillo and we tell them, ?yes we know Bernard Petillo?. Then deh tell we ?ih dead?. We asked them, ?weh paat ih dead?? They said, ?paan di Boulevaad?. My ma gaan and she identify the body and dat dah mi my bredda.?

Not until the police finish their investigation will we know officially why Petillo was shot, but word on the street is that the shooting was a result of ?drunken talk? taken seriously. His family, however, says he isn?t the type to ?talk big?.

Shakira Jones
?Mi no know who kill ah and mi no know why deh kill ah, because my bredda dah no kinda person weh go out and look fi trouble. My bredda stay home and drink. That?s all my bredda do. Drink and smoke. And from deh ih go dah ih bed. And mi no know nobody weh hi gat trouble with.?

While police have not yet established a motive or detained any suspects, Petillo?s family say something must be done.

Shakira Jones
?I wah justice fi mi bredda because dah no kinda person weh go out pan de street and look fi trouble.?

Alyssa Noble reporting for News Five.

If you have any information to help solve this crime please contact the nearest Police Station or Call Crime Stoppers at 0-800-922-TIPS.