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Monica Bodden went to the scene yesterday evening and picks up the pieces from there.

Monica Bodden Reporting
This is where the shooting happened on Mahogany Street in front of this barbershop around 5:25 yesterday evening.

Police stood guard over the area- while bystanders looked on in stunned, shaken in disbelief by the broad day light assassination.

The scenes of crime team searched for expended shells. As many as 20 shots were let go in a hail of gunfire. 28 year old Edward Lord, a well-known street figure was shot up 7 times.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Sometime around 5:25 pm on the 29th of June police responded to a report that a shooting had occurred on Mahogany Street close to Flamboyant Street where Edward Lord was a victim of a shooting that claim his life. He receives 7 gunshots wounds to various parts of his body - he was transported to the KHMH where he was pronounced dead."

According to witnesses, he was standing in front of Brick City Barbershop on Mahogany Street - talking to 2 other men - When a gunman walked up to him and opened fire at close range. He was shot up with a machine gun that used 9 millimeter ammunition. Over 20 expended shells were retrieved on the scene by police. Many say the gunman exited out of a brown ford escort car. But today police was unable to confirm that to us.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"We can say that Lord was speaking to two persons when a lone gunman approach and from what we have gathered so far from the investigation the person may have been in possession of some sort machine gun or so."

Monica Bodden
"You understand if that person exited from a vehicle?"

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"That, I cannot say as yet. I know that the investigators have move a little further in establishing whether or not that person was in fact in a vehicle or on foot but we would like to keep that as a part of the investigation."

Police say they know exactly who they are looking for in connection with Eddy Lords murder.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Actually we know who we are looking for in tis incident, I cannot release the name because we know that the nature of this crime is murder and we wouldn't want to prejudice the case, we want to bring justice to the family and as well to the victim in this matter. So we will keep that identity until we find that person and then we will make it public for everyone to know."

In 2005 Lord was charged with the murder of University Librarian Sherwin Requena which was later dropped in May of 2007. 3 months later in 2007 he was accused for the murder of George Junie Balls Mackenzie -the most notorious gangster in the history of Belize. But after serving 18 months behind bars - Edward Lord was once again released in March of 2009 - when star witness of the shooting refused to testify.

Last year September he was shot to the face and narrowly escaped death.

Lord had a long criminal record and that made him one of the most wanted men on the streets. Word is that Edward Lord's murder may have been a retaliation.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Well Monica in all honesty to you we are looking at that angle. We are looking at several angles. We are trying to establish first of all the motives and we are trying to find the assailant in this crime. We wouldn't want to jump out quickly and say that directly it's a retaliation shooting but of course we would examine that angle also."

The shooting happened only a stone's throw away from a police substation - This broad daylight murder is brazen in the extreme.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"This is a brazen attack. It's still light - after 5pm right now - it's still bright. This is not more than 2 blocks away from a substation but that person saw his target and nothing would have stood in his way from hitting his target. It's unfortunate Mr. Lord lost his life but I must also explain to you that when a murder is supposed to happen - you can have 1,000 police officers out there but how would one police officer out of that 1,000 know what your intent is if they do not see you actually pull that weapon."

"I have heard several persons calling in to the talk shows - they do interviews and they blame us that the station is so close and the police are not doing anything. Murder is a breakdown of society. It is not something that you and the police department can jump out and say that a murder will take place right now so let me get out there. If that is so then we would have had psychic powers. We try our best to stop crime. We try our best to apprehend people from commit crime. We try our best to suppress crime. We do crime preventative patrols but when it comes to murder it's a different issue and we try our best to solve them as quickly as possible and bring the perpetrators to justice."

Police believe one of the well-established gangs in the city is responsible for the killing. Of note is that UDP standard Bearer for Lake-I Mark King was right beside Lord - and had just stepped away to speak with someone when Lord was sprayed with bullets. King avoided our calls when we tried to reach him for an interview. He uses that area daily as a meet and greet spot for his prospective voters.