A delivery truck driver is murdered on the job; his bosses robbed
A delivery truck driver was brutally murdered in broad daylight during the lunch hour. The Yo Creek resident, George Blanco, was employed by John Penner Meats; his life was cut short today when he was returning to the village after making deliveries in Belize City. Penner and his two sons were in the vehicle when the robbery turned fatal for Blanco. It is believed that the men were being monitored by the gunmen. Duane Moody reports from the scene of the murder.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Just after midday, tragedy struck at mile nineteen on the Philip Goldson Highway. Traffic was backed up for a good distance away from the bump just after the Maskall Road’s junction with the highway. While the incident was tragic, it wasn’t a road traffic accident, but instead the scene of broad daylight murder.
Voice of: Witness
“I hear a gunshot and I saw a truck roll a far ways from where I heard the gunshot to the bump, about maybe fifty yards from the shot. I see the Mennonites come out of the truck and one in the blue shirt start to run down the road yah and the other one hold ahn and ker ahn back to the truck.”
Residents in the area who gathered say that they heard up to two shots being fired. But in the aftermath of the gun blast, the driver, sixty-one year old George Blanco, laid in the middle of the highway dead. Blanco has been working with John Penner Meats out of Yo Creek, Orange Walk District for some fourteen years and while this is the second time that they have been robbed, this time around tragedy has struck.
John Penner
John Penner, Robbery Victim
“I heard like a tire blew out and I had to get out of the truck quick and then I run, I tried to escape and then they said I want all the money. And I said I don’t have it here, I have it in the truck. And then I had to go back in the truck and give them my purse with the money. And then I walked around the truck and I see my driver is dead.”
Duane Moody
“So you were sleeping and you thought it was a blowout?”
John Penner
“That’s what I thought yah.”
Abraham Penner
Abraham Penner, Robbery Victim
“There was two persons, two persons, they run on the water right here and to the bush.”
Reporter
“In what direction did they go?”
Abraham Penner
“Right there to the back. I don’t know what direction that was.”
Duane Moody
“What really happened since you were in the front? What really happened? They just fired shots at you guys?”
Abraham Penner
“They just shot and then the truck stopped. And then they said if you noh give the money, we will kill all of you. I jumped out of the truck and the driver dropped out of the truck because he was dead. Then we stopped the truck and my father and my brother run and then my father had to come back to give all the money or they will kill us.”
The assailants then ran through this lot and escaped into the back.
Voice of: Witness
“Yes I do see two man run through the yard, but I neva recognized them because I neva know weh happen.”
Duane Moody
“Is it strange that something like this has happened so close to where you guys live? Is this the first time that something like this has happened?”
Voice of: Witness
“First time something like this happen.”
Reporter
“Does this make you more afraid now as a resident of the area?”
Voice of: Witness
“Afraid no, to be honest I have nothing to be afraid of because I have nothing to lose.”
It’s a real frightening experience for the Penner family who travel the highway from Yo Creek in the Orange Walk District twice a week to sell meat products in the City. The killers got away with over nine thousand dollars.
Abraham Penner
“One year before, they just robbed us, they never shoot nobody. I mean rob that’s all right, but they killed the driver; that’s the more important thing.”
Reporter
“Did they get a large sum of money?”
Abraham Penner
“Bout over nine thousand dollars.”
Reporter
“Do you guys have a fear now with moving up and down and continuing your business?”
Abraham Penner
“I have to continue my business. If not, what will we do? We have to work something.”
If anyone has information on the homicide, they are asked to contact the nearest police station or crime stoppers Belize at 0-800-922 TIPS. Duane Moody for News Five.
Da sin when deh kill hard working people. Now di family of di dead will suffer more. Dey ya tief gwen straight da hell. I pray for all hard working honest people cause like we country di run outta dey ya kinda people.
This has every markings of a set up. The cell phone were probably used to inform the criminals on the movement of the truck. Business people beware, leave everything at the bank and find new ways to deal with cash, like having deposit made directly to accounts. Safety come first!
ITS SAD TO SEE HARWORKING PEOPLE AND LAW ABIDDING CITIZENS GETTING MURDERED THIS WAY AND POLICE CANNOT OR DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING.. SAD, SAD, SAD, THIS COUNTRY IS BECOMING INGOBERNABLE IN ALL FRONTS.. I AM A UDP VOTER BUT I AM VERY SAD THE WAY OUR COUNTRY IS GOING AND EVEN IF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT HAS A HOLD OF IT.. PROBABLY IF THEY WERE LESS OBSESSED WITH CORRUPTION AND MOREE IN RUNNING OUR COUNTRY. WHEE IS THE BIG MOUTHED CHURCH HERE. SO MANY SINGLE MOTHERS AND KIDS WITH PARENTS AND LOVE BREATHS CRIME AND POVERTY.. LETS TALK ABOUT THIS CHURCHES..
we the Belizean need to hold the government of belize responsible for our pain.
Its always the same, we comment and feel sorry for the hardworking & slain innocent Belizeans yet we do nothing! Kill those son of b%^&#s one by one and then we will all see how they start desisting from harming us the hardworking & innocent Belizeans!! Let them go to other Central American countries & try doing the same shit….LINCHING them would be their compensation!!!
UGHHHHH! Hate them lazy people killing the hard working people. my gosh! Yes kill them one by one so they feel the same pain! But I am sure God will be just! although we wait impatiently there reward will be hell!