7 News Belize

Teenager Tried To Part Fight, Got Killed
posted (April 30, 2018)
Tonight a Belize City family is mourning the death of high schooler Arkel August. The 15 year old was stabbed in the chest during a basketball game on Saturday - and he died on Sunday.

It's a crazy, senseless killing - but it's even more so when we find out that it's another 15 year old who did it.

And sadly, the young victim's family has lost a loved one to murder before: 23 months ago - Arkel's older brother was slain. Today, Daniel Ortiz spoke to a mother who knows loss all too well:..

Daniel Ortiz reporting
For the second time in 2 years, Dana August welcomed us into her home to discuss a slain son, this time it's 15 year-old Arkel August. She sat in her living room with a bouquet of flowers sent to her as a token of sympathy for Arkel's death. He died yesterday from a stab wound to the chest.

She's now preparing to bury her second son, and one of the things immediately apparent was that she was able to calmly speak to us where others would be distressed.

Dana August - Mother of the Deceased
"God, God, all the way. I am not ashamed, I cried. But once I do my first cry, then I am strong, because I know I can turn to him and lean on him and he has always been there through the first death and now this one."

Her son, Arkel, who is described as a model young man, was practicing basketball here on this court on Saturday evening. He was preparing for a basketball tournament, when a fight broke out on the court. Acting as peacemaker, he parted the fight. That apparently offended one of the combatants, another 15 year-old minor, who reportedly went home and came back prepared to attack him.

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB, Eastern Division
"What we understand that he was at the basketball court at the Cumberbatch Field playing basketball with other friends when there was an argument amongst a group of male persons."

Dana August
"Arkel intervened and told them to stop, pushed both of them and told them to stop. One got mad and hit Arkel, He then left the basketball court, went home and came back. Nobody weren't paying him mind. They continue playing ball and so forth. The guys out there says they didn't even saw when this child came back with a knife and went after Arkel. All they could see was just him flying hands and when they saw that Arkel clothes was bloody, that's when they realized that Arkel got stab and they ran to his aid and hurry rush him to the hospital."

His mother expected to find him in a critical condition, instead, she found her son conscious, and talking. It appeared as though he would survive this attempt on his life.

Dana August
"He was up, he was talking. We were both conversing. He was talking to the doctors, myself and letting me know that he is okay. He inform the doctor - he says 'doc, my mom's birthday is tomorrow, you need to fix me up quick so I can go home. I need to be home with her.' The doctor told him yes we will, you will be home with your mom."

But things took a turn for the worst between late Saturday night into Sunday. He died on the operating table.

Dana August
"Arkel did 2 surgeries that Saturday night; one for the heart and one for his lower abdomen. Whilst doing the one for his heart, the doctor says he thought he lost Arkel. Ten - fifteen minutes his heart stop beating, but he [doctor] kept working and pumping his heart work and Arkel came back and responded, so he could go through with the other surgery. We couldn't speak to him, because they had to put him in an induce coma, so he could recover. The doctor told me that the kidney failed and going to Sunday when we received the call, they say he had a cardiac arrest again and that was the one that took him. He couldn't fight anymore."

And just like that, a promising young man's life ended, simply because he acted as peacemaker on Saturday evening. The outpouring of affection for Arkel clearly indicates the positive impact he had on those who came into contact with him.

Dana August
"First of all we're not rich, we are poor. Arkel accepted that. He would do with the little he has and still feels like he is up there. He has learnt to eat drink bread and drank sugar and water and still went out there if he had just eaten a steak. Thank God that what they have taught me, I have taught him. Another thing, Arkel has a smile that attracts everybody. If anybody is sad and Arkel is passing by that smile and that would just make that person day - with just 'good morning ma'am.' I will always remember his smile."

Reporter
"It sounds like you had a lot of fun memories of him."

Dana August
"This house is always filled with fun with me and my kid's dad. It's just me and them. I had 8 [children] and now I am left with 6 now."

Though she has a pleasant demeanor, Dana August knows pain all too well. In June 2016, her elder son, Elroy Perdomo was shot and killed hours after being released from police custody. He was a suspect in a murder which happened days before, and it appears that his enemies took matters into their own hands and doled out "street justice".

Dana August
"We are sad and we are going to be sad for the rest of our lives, we will still stay together strong with the love that we have for each other, supporting each other. That is what Arkel and Edward wants us to continue do, to stay together as a family - to just continue to share our love with each other and just being there for each other."

August says that she's forgiven the young man who stabbed her son to death. She's hoping that he will get the help he needs to manage the consequences of his actions

Dana August
"I am in loss of my son, but I am more concerned about that mother and her child, because I can just imagine what they are going through. Maybe he is frightened. He has to live with this for the rest of his life. We have to live with the loss of Arkel and he has to live with what he has done. So from yesterday I told his mom with all my heart I forgave her child. Both of them are babies."

The 15 year old suspect has been charged for murder.

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