The southside of Belize City witnessed another killing last night – and again it was – by all outward indications a senseless murder. But even more surprising is that the man who was killed was at his home during the day when gunmen came marching in. I found out more today.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Around 5:00 yesterday evening, Derrick Mahler and Shawn Thompson better known as Gary were sitting outside their front door at sixty-three Far West Street when the brothers were approached by two men, one armed with what appeared to be a thirty eight revolver. They took away forty six year old Derrick Mahler’s gold rings and cell phone and then forced the pair of brothers into the house. An area resident in fear of his own life spoke to 7News off camera about what happened next.

Voice of Area Resident,
“What really happened is they push they in, they went by the door and they pushed them inside and then they were trying to get them into the back room. Derrick told me they were trying to get them into the backroom. So it sounds like a home invasion to me but….”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Where do you believe Gary was stabbed, inside or outside the house because they said that Derrick did try to take away the gun from one of the men?

Voice of Area Resident,
“When Gary ran out of the house it was because Gary was already had the juk in his neck because by the time Gary ran out of the house Gary drop, Gary dropped on the ground and when we tried to pick him up, we saw a big hole in his neck.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Was he able to tell you anything?

Voice of Area Resident,
“No he went unconscious. Under his foot bottom was white and everything already. It was just real bad vibes.”

The report is that when the four got inside the house, Derrick struggled with the gunman and managed to wrest away the weapon but the assailant grabbed back the revolver. He dashed out the door with Derrick in hot pursuit. And that is when Derrick told Shawn to hold onto the other man.

Kareem Lopez, Area Resident
“It was about quarter to five it happened because I was over there fixing some televisions and I saw the crowd over this side and somebody ran and told me to help this guy, this guy was bleeding, he got two stabs in the throat because they wanted to rob the family over there and I put him in the vehicle, me and my cousin that lives here, and the guy from upstairs got his vehicle and we put him in the vehicle and we took him to the hospital. By the time we took him to the hospital and we were in the vehicle, I was like Gary wake up, wake up Gary, you can make it, and he was bringing foam out of his mouth and blood was coming out of his mouth and nose too. He was bleeding to the neck internally. According to what the doctor said he had a cut artery.”

An eyewitness told 7News that after Shawn was stabbed he managed to run outside to get help from his brother. When the brothers were walking back to their house Derrick told Shawn that he had been stabbed; shortly after Shawn collapsed. These blood spots marked the location where he fell. Shawn Gary Thompson died around six fifty three on Thursday evening at the KHMH.

Kareem Lopez,
“One of the guys took a kitchen knife from inside the house that they came to rob and they stabbed the guy in the throat two times.”

The sudden and tragic loss has left the brother’s family in shock. Almost five years ago their other sibling Steve Thompson better known as Monster was also stabbed and killed during a robbery at his residence.

Keith Mahler, Brother of Murder Victim
“This is a second brother for me who I lost through robbery. I lost one five years ago in Belama. He was robbed, he was shot execution style. That was Steve aka Monster Thompson and now Shawn Gary Thompson. What’s next?”

Derrick Mahler who is an avid fan of cycling resides in the United States but came to Belize only three weeks ago and participated the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic.

Keith Mahler,
“Cross Country like for me and sports, that is his favourite.”

According to well known sports enthusiast Keith Mahler, he doesn’t know just how much more pain the family can endure.

Keith Mahler,
“All I know is one brother is hurt and one brother is dead.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
How is Derrick doing and where was he injured?

Keith Mahler,
“The understanding I got is he got his face injured and his hand is band up.”

According to police Derrick Mahler was also bleeding from the right side of the face and hand where they believe he was struck in the head with the weapon.

Keith Mahler,
“This is more than a shock for me because I don’t know my brothers, like myself, we do not interfere with people. Like for me, I do my daily work, sports, and back home – that’s it. My brother Derrick, he does the same thing. Gary he hengs with his friends and then comes back home.”

When police searched the area at the corner of King and Far West Streets, they recovered the knife believe to be the murder weapon. It had a fourteen inch stainless steel blade with a black handle.

Kareem Lopez,
“Three young men.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Why how you know that there were three young men?

Kareem Lopez,
“There were three because we all live around the neighbourhood and we watch everything that happens. I don’t want them to come and try to hurt us and stuff like that but we need more police back up and more patrols.”

Neighbours who are too scared to come on camera to talk to us about the homicide did tell us that just before Shawn Gary Thompson and Derrick Mahler were held up, they did recall seeing three suspicious looking men riding several times past the residence just before the brothers were attacked. As for Shawn Gary Thompson, although unemployed at the time of his death, was well known as a kind and trust worthy individual and will be missed by the neighbourhood.

Voice of Area Resident,
“Gary didn’t do nobody nothing. Gary is a straight person. The whole neighbourhood knows Gary, the whole neighbourhood.”

Rudy Burgos, Close Friend/Area Resident
“When I heard it I was at the point of tears because I know these guys literally from babies. I grew up around here, I am a King Street fellow and I am so sad Jackie. I am very very sad because this was one nice young man.”

Kareem Lopez,
“The guy that got stabbed, he was a very nice guy. Everybody goes and send him out with a hundred dollars and he would bring your change but the guy loved to drink too. I think he was intoxicated when he got stabbed too and that is why he didn’t make it.”

Voice of Area Resident,
“It just doesn’t make any sense to me. It just doesn’t make no sense because those people don’t have nothing, those people are not rich or nothing like that so they would try to get millions of dollars from them or something. But I believe it was robbery because they went with a couple things and so.”

Rudy Burgos,
“We hear people swear for their kids on TV but this young man was the one that the neighbours would send their children to school with and they would trust this young man. He was liked. Tall, lanky, well liked fellow. He is the person that talked to everybody. We are our own worst enemies Jackie. We are too defensive of our people and I’ve told my own children that if you get into trouble, I will cooperate with the law but many people for fear, I can understand fear because I have children, but we have to start doing the right thing. Honestly, the Mahler family, I am very very said because this hit close to home.”

Keith Mahler,
“Do we all have to look over our shoulder every time we walk. We can’t leave our homes in peace now? Come on.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
And the thing is they were at home.

Keith Mahler,
“Yeah that’s true.”

At the crime scene we observed two armed BDF soldiers accompanied by a policeman on foot patrol. The complaint is that the security forces only show a presence after something bad has happened.

Voice of Area Resident,
“We would really want it to stop because it doesn’t make any sense. The police are a hopeless case because the police when they are to circle and harass who they are to harass they aren’t around. They are around on different time.”

Keith Mahler,
“It doesn’t matter which party, the government has to step up. For me I think if the government goes back to the old days like hanging, best they do that because if they don’t, other people will still get it. I personally think they have to do that. I won’t say that I am taking the Biblical way of an eye for an eye but that is the way it has to be.”

Belize City Police have detained only person for questioning but they are looking for two other young men. One neighbour who did not wish to appear on camera says she knows three persons are involved because as the two assailants ran out of far west street another young man was waiting for them and he threw a bicycle at the two who then jumped on it rode and off. Today Keith Mahler appealed to anyone who has any information to come forward.

Keith Mahler,
“People in this neighbourhood would have seen what has transpired and if they know anything don’t be afraid because if you keep being afraid, things will keep going the way it is right now because if you leave criminals out here to keep doing this same stuff, where will we all be? We will all go six feet under.”

As was noted in the story, one person has been detained.