7 News Belize

An Ugly Murder on Lovely Lane
posted (April 16, 2018)
Three weeks ago, southside Belize City was in turmoil due to rising gang related crime, but, now, it's the Northside - which witnessed its second execution style killing in four days. On Wednesday night the victim was 37 year old Marcia Downs, and yesterday evening it was 30 year old Jason Belencio. In both cases, the victims were not known to be in any gang, but both of them were shot in the head with deliberate cruelty.

Today, Sahar Vasquez went looking for answers in Belncio's murder:

Sahar Vasquez reporting
In 2012 while police officers were doing a meet and greet on Lovely Lane, 24-year-old Jason Belencio made sure to greet the police. But Belencio didn't just exchange courtesies, the 24-year-old shared his life story and made one request.

FILE: June 28, 2012
Jason Belencio, Deceased
"The police week is what I like. They are coming around and getting to meet people. The society makes it look like everyone in the streets is somebody bad but watches me 24 years olf without a mom and dad. If you look at my record, not even a stick of weed I got charged for. If your mind is set you can do anything. Please help me I want to join the force. Help me out."

Belencios was a law-abiding citizen, an aspiring lawman who stayed away from trouble, but that did not help him live past 30. His body now lies in a morgue. His life was taken from him on Sunday at the same exact lane he greeted those officers a 6 years ago,

Wilfred Ferrufino, Inspector- CIB
"On arrival police discovered the body if a Kriol male person lying on Lovely Lane. He was identified to be that of Jason Belencio. 30 Year old laborer of Barrack road. He was seen with multiple gunshot wounds to head and body. He died on the scene."

Belencio was an avid gambler in fact he had just finished playing with some friends when he was heading to his beloved mother in law's home to check on her as he usually did. He was a few feet away from the house when death came for him.

Therese Leiva, Mother in Law of Deceased
"He was at house gambling. He likes gambling. He loved to gamble. He left to come to my house but they shot him before."

"He would always come and look for me and check on me to see how I feel and how I am doing."

His family says that he was not a troublesome man, he was just a kind-hearted soul that wanted to positively make his mark.

Therese Leiva, Mother in Law of Deceased
"He is not a troubled person. I want the people of Belize to know he is not in a gang or anything like that."

Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"This was not related to gambling? Was anyone trying to get back at him for owing?"

Therese Leiva, Mother in Law of Deceased
"No no no no no no. I want the people to know. That is a lie. Nothing like that no no no no."

Nikkita Arnold, Common Law Wife of Deceased
"He would just socialize with everyone. Even when he went through problems he would make it back up. He was very friendly and forgiving. He had a nice heart."

Belencio had a lot of different roles to play but the most important one was being a father to his three daughters.

Therese Leiva, Mother in Law of Deceased
"Everything to his children. Everything to his three children. He would take them to school and pick them up. His children look forward to seeing him. No one else can pick up the children not even me only him."

"He took them to school every day Monday to Friday. He picked them up every day. In the evenings he would play with them. He loved his children."

Now his daughters will never see his smiling face waiting for them at school and his wife will never see her best friend again.

Nikkita Arnold, Common Law Wife of Deceased
"I just want to say I love him and I miss him."

The police say Belencio was not affiliated with any gang. We note, though, that Lovely Lane is within the territory of a gang which is having an active dispute with a rival Northside group.

Police currently have one person detained and are looking for another as the investigation continues.

We understand that police also have a suspect detained for the Marcia Downs murder.

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