Yesterday we told you that police were looking for a known suspect from Belize City for the shooting death of Albert Vargas Jr. in Orange Walk town. Well, today police have charged that suspect.
He is 24 year old Nisani Daniel Garcia, a construction worker of Belize City, and this evening, he was formally arrested and charged for the murder of the 21 year old Vargas. At the police press briefing earlier today, investigators discussed the possibilities of this latest homicide being related to a drug-buy gone wrong between the men in the vehicle:
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head - NCIB
"On Tuesday 10th July, shortly after 7:30pm, Orange Walk police responded to the information of a shooting at the Northern Regional Hospital. Upon their arrival they observed a make Hispanic person lying motionless who was identified as Alberto Vargas, 21 year old of an Orange Walk address. He had 2 apparent gunshot wounds to the left side of his neck. Initial police investigations revealed that the deceased Alberto Vargas was along with one, Jose Medina, traveling from a south to north direction in a green Ford Escape vehicle when they had stopped to pick up a passenger somewhere on Belize/Corozal Road and shortly after picking up the passenger, the driver of the vehicle Mr. Medina decided to stop to order food. And in the process of stopping, he heard a commotion in the vehicle which caused him to alight the vehicle, thereafter he heard several gunshots and upon him returning to the vehicle, he observed the deceased Alberto Vargas slumping and bleeding. As a result he was transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival."
"Police have one suspect in detention in relation to this investigation."
Reporter
"Have you all been able to ascertain why it was that Mr. Vargas was shot or killed?"
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head - NCIB
"No. We are looking at several angles which we are following in that regard."
Reporter
"There was report that there may have been a drug transaction taking place at that time."
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head - NCIB
"That information was also received by the police which we are following through on as a part of the leads."
Reporter
"Has any expended shells actually recovered in the vehicle?"
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head - NCIB
"Yes. 4 expended 9mm shells were found on the back passenger seat on the vehicle."
Reporter
"That supports the theory that the shooting actually happened in the vehicle and between 2 passengers?"
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head - NCIB
"Yes."
As we told you yesterday, Vargas was someone well known to police in Orange Walk and had been implicated previously on drug related offences.
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