Email

Print

And while the community adjoining Mahogany and Mopan Streets literally shook this morning – 14 hours earlier, just across Vernon Street in the same general area, the relatives and neighbours of Ellis Meighan were shaken by a different type of explosion, this one the kind that comes from the barrel of a killer’s gun. And we say relatives and neighbours because those are the one who rushed to his aid, after all, he was executed in the street just a stone’s throw from his own home. What’s equally shocking is that it happened on Central American Boulevard, just a block before the always crowded Western Highway roundabout at 8:30 on a Sunday night. It was beyond brazen, and dozens of onlookers got a sense of the message the killer wanted to send. 7News was on the scene.

Ernest “Jawmaine” Meighan, Brother of Murder Victim
“I was shocked when I get the phone call, I said I could never believe somebody would kill my brother. I don’t think so, not in that kind of way. He doesn’t deserve something like that.”

From all indications it was an execution, a very deliberate act; the shooter was precise and calculating, killing him only a block from his home on Banak Street. Thirty seven year old Ellis Meighan Sr. better known as “Pepper Gacho” was riding his bicycle at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Banak Street when a man came up on bicycle and shot him in the head. The impact of the gunshot flung him unto the street side. According to his brother, well known cyclist Ernest “Jawmaine” Meighan, his younger sibling was reportedly killed because of a previous incident involving one of the victim’s sons.

Ernest “Jawmaine” Meighan,
“After I heard my brother got shot I spoke to one of the police and they told me that they expected a retaliation long time for something which his son did. Police were expecting a retaliation long time but it just happened now because of some shooting or something that his son did and like the thing go, if you can’t Harry you catch his shirt.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“Do you know if any of the individuals the police have in custody are strong suspects? What are the police telling family?”

Ernest “Jawmaine” Meighan,
“As it happened it looks like the police they have an idea of who really shot him and they already have somebody hold for it so it looks like the police are doing their job.”

It is no secret that Ellis Meighan had gotten himself into trouble with the law on several occasions but his brother told 7News that he had started to make a change for the better.

Ernest “Jawmaine” Meighan,
“He was bond over for the peace for a year and since my brother hasn’t gotten in any trouble. Actually the bond over for the peace done expire couple months ago and he decided to really change his life and he is somebody who is always on the street here or on the boulevard doing his little hustling and making sure he is there for his kids for school; whatever his kids need he makes sure they get it.

I can tell you my brother has natural talent. With me only sports I think I can really do is cycling. He could do football and run. He can do a little of everything and looking back at Belmopan Classic in 1992 when he placed third and I was fifth and I realized his natural talent.

I think his friends and the friends he hanged out with made him get into this type of situation. His friends lead him astray. Like I have different friends from him and he was really trying to change and he really, I can tell you he is there for his kids. I tried my best for him, got everything for him, everything I could have helped him with I tried because he is my only brother and I will be there by his side.”

Ellis Meighan was recovering from a stroke when he was killed.

Ernest “Jawmaine” Meighan,
“Actually he got two strokes so half of his body was partially paralyzed.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
“So even if he wanted to defend himself, his medical condition would have prevented him from doing that?”

Ernest “Jawmaine” Meighan,
“I think everybody should know that already because you could see how he walks, the way how he ride bicycle and you can see how that power is not in him again and everybody could see that so I don’t see how or why they would just come and take it out of my brother and my brother didn’t do nothing.”

And as neighbourhood friends washed the blood away from the sidewalk, for his loved ones, who had to be carried away wailing, nothing will cleanse their memory of the image of their father, husband, sibling and son’s lifeless body on the sidewalk. Reporting for 7News, Jacqueline Godwin.

Police have made no arrests yet but are working on a number of leads and hope to have someone detained before a counter-retaliation occurs. It is known that Ellis Meighan’s son, a minor was charged for attempted murder last week.