7 News Belize

Police: Serial Robbers Escalated To Murder
posted (June 3, 2013)
Belmopan police continue to detain 3 men, one of whom is only 15 years-old, for a robbery which led to the death of a Salvadoran man residing on the outskirts of the capital city.

The deceased and his boss tried to rescue the owner of the bar they were socializing at. Daniel Ortiz tried to find out what caused the men to want to come to the aid of the owner, which is just a stone's throw away from their workplace. Here's that story.

Daniel Ortiz reporting
La Choza Bar looked deserted today when we visited the scene where the Salvadorans, 43 year-old Isabel Antonio Ballona and 55 year-old Manuel Aquino, were shot by robbers who executed a coordinated attack against the bar owner.

Early Sunday morning, both men were at the establishment enjoying their time together as employer and employee who were off the clock when 4 armed men attacked the business place.

ASP Sinquest Martinez - OC, Belmopan Police
"Police responded to a call at around 12:10am Sunday. They visited a business establish on west side Belmopan where they found two male hispanic persons on the ground who were then taken to the Western Regional Hospital. Initial investigation reveal that the manager of the business establishment reported to the police that while he was there along with his waitresses and customers they were acosted by four male persons who ordered the manager of the establishment to go on the ground and proceeded to rob him and his business establishment. While the robbery was taking place - the now deceased and the other victim who are a patron of the establishment went to aid the manager when the robbers fired a couple shots and caught both of them."

The robbers came equipped for the assault, wearing black clothing, masks and gloves. After they stole the business owner's wallet and sales from the cash register, they used his vehicle to flee the scene.

ASP Sinquest Martinez
"During the robbery when the robbers left they did manage to get the manager's key for his car which was a Geo Prism 2000 (white) but due to our hard work and dedication and over drive in this investigation which of recently we were being plagued with - we managed to find the car in Belmopan city and one of them was coming from the car and that's how we managed to crack the cause so far."

Martinez says that Belmopan police have made other strides in this investigation

ASP Sinquest Martinez
"We have recovered cell phones, the car, couple of the drinks stolen from the establishment likewise. We have recovered some of the cash and the items we have found we found it on them and the items have been identified by the proprietor and the other witnesses in the case. So far we have detained six persons and yesterday and today we detained another person. So we are just doing what needs to get done, putting it together and have these statements recorded. The physical aspect is one part of it, because what I have noticed of late we here in Belize, we always look for quick fix - it's not about quick fixes it's about down the road. Most natural all six of them are of great interest to us because for the past two months we have been playing with these kinds of robberies that's been taking place."

Reporter
"These persons are believed to be the perpetrators?"

ASP Sinquest Martinez
"So far we strong believe that they are working as a group."

And while police believe that these men may be connected to a series of planned robberies which occurred in the Belmopan area for the last 2 months, they don't believe that the men intentionally meant to escalate to murder. That's because the outcome of this attack led to the death of Ballona, who as Martinez briefed – was shot trying to offer assistance to the bar owner.

ASP Sinquest Martinez
"I think it was planned except for the shooting due to the persons that went to assist then the robbers fired upon them and fatally hit one of them."

Isabel Antonio Ballona worked for Manuel Aquino as his assistant at his mechanic shop, and he periodically travels back to his home country. 7News understands that one of his relatives is on his way to Belize to make arrangements for the body after post mortem has been conducted.

Aquino received shots to the legs and he continues to receive treatment at the Belmopan Hospital.

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