7 News Belize

Was Percussionist Killed For Gang-Related Brother?
posted (August 19, 2011)
Giovanni Chi, known to friends and music lovers in Belize and across the world, was murdered last night. The city resident was marked for death and shot in the head. The speculation is that it wasn't because of anything he did; it appears to be because he was the half brother of a slain gang leader.

In Belize city these days, it appears that's enough to get you killed. Monica Bodden found out more:…

Monica Bodden Reporting
Around 10:30 last night the scenes of crime experts processed yet another grisly murder scene - the body of 33 year old Giovanni Chi - well know Belizean musician - lay dead at the corner of Jane Usher Boulevard and Louise Bevans Street.

While armed officers stood guard in the crime ridden neighborhood. Just minutes later, his body was placed in the pan of this police DMAX pickup truck and carted away through the city streets - to the morgue.

Chi was riding his bicycle on Jane Usher Boulevard a little after 10 last night- when someone fired the fatal shot at him - which caught him to the left side of his head.

The bullet exited through the right side and he died on the spot.

Elaine Castillo who has been Chi's common law wife for 8 years and is the mother of two of his children - told us she first received the news from police - who went to her house around 10:30 last night, asking her to go identify Chi's body.

Elaine Castillo - Common-law-wife
"Yesterday evening he says that he was coming back. He fix the baby bike and he says he was coming back home then somebody just kill him just like that."

Friend of Decease
"We didn't believe because a good musician like that - he didn't have any beef or anything with anybody. He was just going home to his kids and I get the news that the man is dead."

Monica Bodden
"Around what time?"

Friend of Decease
"About 10pm-11pm, then they call me and tell me that the man is dead. They didn't tell me where he was going but I know where he was going, that is the usual routine for him, so he don't need to tell me, I already know."

Monica Bodden
"So it was shocking for you when you got that news?"

Friend of Decease
"Definitely he was just here a minute ago and like 5 minutes after that they came to tell me that the man got shot."

Monica Bodden
"You know where he got shot?"

Friend of Decease
"They say it was at the back of Jane Usher Boulevard, I am not really sure."

Monica Bodden
"To what part of his body?"

Friend of Decease
"In his head."

Chi was the oldest brother of one of the city's most notorious gangsters -Andre Trapp. He too was murdered in June of last year in the parking lot of the magistrate's court - after exiting the courthouse.

But while Trapp was a notorious street figure - his brother Giovanni Chi never fit that description. He on the other hand was well known and widely liked as a hard working musician.

Elaine Castillo - Common-law-wife
"That man was so love by everybody, the only fear that he had was of his brother death and the lifestyle that he live. That's about it."

Monica Bodden
"You think his murder may have been because of his brother's gang affiliation?"

Elaine Castillo - Common-law-wife
"I don't want to speculate. I just want to say that they kill a good dad for his kids. He loves his children, all 4 of them."

Monica Bodden
"What kind of father was he to your kids?"

Elaine Castillo - Common-law-wife
"I don't know how to explain, it like if he is eating something and his kid wants it he take it out of his mouth and give it to his kid. I don't know how to explain that kind of father. He was the best."

Monica Bodden
"You haven't had a chance to tell your kids as yet that their father has been murder?"

Elaine Castillo - Common-law-wife
"No, I can't even bring to tell them. I went home this morning after I went to check about him - my kids are asking me when will their father come home. I don't know how to tell them that their father id dead."

Friend of Decease
"Chi is a nice person, he and I live together and so I know his ways - he gets around with everybody. He makes everybody feel happy. He is my boss because it's him that makes me get the job that I have right now."

Monica Bodden
"So he is also your boss?"

Friend of Decease
"He is everything in one; brother, boss, uncle, father... "

Giovanni Chi was celebrated for his love of music and has captivated a worldwide audience with his talent. He has toured the world with the late great Andy Palacio - from Europe to Mexico to North America - playing the maracas, the segunda and singing backup on Andy P's Watina tour.

And most recently he fronted the Larubeya Boys band which played at the international airport for arriving tourist.

He has been a member of the band for the past 16 years.

Lito Baltazar - Member, Larubeya Boys
"Chi was a good member of Larubeya Band. Since he got in with us he has establish a band - he gets jobs to play and so on. He was the lead singer and the guitar player, he really build up his band. He was a great brother."

Monica Bodden
"How long you guys have been playing together in Larubeya Band?"

Lito Baltazar - Member, Larubeya Boys
"From since 1995 Chi joins us - we got stronger every day. We have 15-16 years playing in the band up to this moment that somebody took his life. It was a shock to me to see something like that happen to that brother. Like what they say 'death come for us all' but it happens and we have to accept it."

Today his family, friends and fans are left with one question in mind. Why would someone take the life of this young, hardworking father and talented musician - that is described by everyone as a humble man?

Elaine Castillo - Common-law-wife
"It makes me angry but I know I have to be strong to take care of my kids like how he would want because he wouldn't want to let them down because he was a strong person. He fight for everything that he believes in so then I have to try be strong for them. They take away Chi from the entire country of Belize because everybody loves Chi. But then how can one even think about doing this to another human being like himself. He was doing any harm, he didn't hurt anybody. I just pray for that person (the killer) for God to help him. I won't wish the worse for him because I don't wish it for anybody because it hurts so much that you don't want to wish it for anybody."

He was the father of four children, the youngest just a year old and the eldest, 7. No one has been detained for the murder.

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