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Urban Terror: Home Invasion Leaves Man On Life Support
posted (June 20, 2011)
And there was also a murder in the city - we'll tell you about that in a few but first to a very disturbing story that has left a city man on life support this evening.

53 year old Romel Palacio was in his home on Sunday when armed home invaders stormed in, looking to kill a witness in an upcoming trial.

They didn't find that witness and killed Palacio instead. Monica Bodden has the story:..

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"You don't expect anybody to be walking all the way into your house and kill your husband in your bathroom."

Monica Bodden Reporting
53 year old taxicab driver -Romel Palacio was hooked up on a life support machine - while his wife Tyoris Palacio - still shaken - gave us the horrific account of what happened at their home on Jane usher Boulevard.

She witnessed her husband being shot 6 times - two of those shots to his head - and the other 4 to his hands and legs.

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"Well I was sitting on my sofa sewing and my grandson was on the loveseat, I didn't hear when the persons came in - when I heard somebody said 'nobody move' and the Hispanic guy was standing right beside me and when I look up I saw the gun and the other person was almost by the corridor. He also had a gun and all I could have done was call for my husband to alert him - I didn't get a chance to tell him that the men they had guns and next thing I heard was when they shot him and they walk right out back."

It happened around 11 o'clock yesterday morning - when two gunmen pulled opened the Palacio's burgular barred front door and stormed into their home.

Mrs. Palacio and her grandson were sitting inside the living room - while her husband Romel Palacio was lying inside the couple's bedroom.

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"He was in the bedroom and apparently they met him as he got into the bathroom so they shot him by the bathroom door."

Monica Bodden
"How many shots you heard?"

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"I think it was six shots."

Monica Bodden
"I understand that he is on life support."

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"Yes ma'am he is on life support but the doctor has inform us that he isn't going to make it."

At that time both men made off into the Jane Usher area -

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"I remember that when the Hispanic man was exiting I made to attack him and my grandson pull me back because said remember they have gun, I wasn't thinking because the dark person coming behind him and I sat down and they went through the door and when they went through the door I went to check on my husband and I saw the shot in his head and he was bleeding and I ran outside and i get hysterical and started screaming for the neighbors."

Quick Police response led to the detention of one of the suspects on J.R Street - who was found in possession of a firearm that is believed to have been used in the incident. So far police are looking for one other suspect.

And while many times a motive is hard to establish - In Romel Palacio's case - his family believe they know exactly why.

His son, 34 year old Romel Palacio jr. was a star witness for the murder of Mitchum Heredia - that took place on April 10th, 2006 at Heredia's home on T Street.

On October 11th, 2007, a jury found Emory and Maurice Felix guilty of Heredia's murder - additionally Maurice Felix was convicted of the attempted murder of the star witness Romel Palacio jr.

Palacio jr. was shot at on that same night of the murder but he escaped.

We understand that the Felix brothers had appealed and the case was coming this week.

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"Well I think it has something to do with Romel Jr. because he had witness a murder six years ago and ever since he had witness they attempt at his life several times so I think that it wasn't the father that they wanted yesterday I think it's the son."

Monica Bodden
"Was the case coming up?"

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"I heard that tomorrow the case is coming up again because they had appeal. So I guess that they wanted him out of the way but unfortunately it wasn't the son that they met at home - it was the father."

Romel Palacio is on life support - And even though doctors have given up on the 53 year old man - For his family, they are still trying to hold on to the smallest bit of hope.

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"He doesn't trouble anybody. If you ask about Romel Palacio he is an ex BDF. I think when he retired from the BDF he was a staff sergeant. From then he ran a taxi and he does real estate because he went to UB and major in Para Legal."

Cyrilla Nunez, Sister
"The one who ever did that is chancy enough to go in his house, in his bathroom and shoot him. I am his only sister and I am very hurted. I left everything to the good Lord. The good Lord will let them pay for it, whoever is involve because they don't have any right to shoot people for nothing."

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"God isn't sleeping. They will answer to God."

Monica Bodden
"You want justice?"

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"Here in Belize apparently you don't get any justice unless you take it in your own hands. Every day they shoot people and you don't get any justice."

Monica Bodden
"They've taken away your bread winner?"

Tyoris Palacio, wife
"Yes, my friend and my companion."

Hospital Authorities say Palacio is on life support with almost zero percent chance of survival. Police are seeking one other man known to them in connection with this incident.

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