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Nembhard is no stranger to the evening news: last year he was shot during a foiled armed robbery, and three months ago he was shot by gang elements. But behind his rugged past, he was a brother, a son and a friend. Here is his full story.

This is 22 year old Dean Nembhard, known by close relatives as "African."

He was not a saint, according to his mother, but a family man none-the-less

In this image he is seen nursing his baby sister, something he would often do.

But the street life he led placed a target on his back.

Only three months ago, he was shot twice here on Holy Emmanuel's Street, in the St. Martin's Area, nearby to where he lives. He was shot twice to his lower abdomen but he survived the ordeal and made a full recovery.

This time around, however, Dean Nembhard was not so fortunate.

Police say he was socializing in this neighborhood when a gun man released a spray of bullets in his direction.

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"It happened minutes before midnight. This happened whilst he was at Berry Street, not far from family residents. He was socializing with a group of male persons when someone just appear from behind a house and they fired several shots where he was injured 3 times on the body."

Dean was shot to the left side of his head, under his left eye and to the center of his chest.

He was rushed to the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital where emergency doctors labored to save him but it was all in vain. About a half hour later, in the wee hours of Saturday morning, Dean Nembhard succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a grieving mother.

Tefanie Francis- Mother of Deceased
"So many times people does meet me and they tell me that people are trailing my son - all kind of things. But honestly as a mother, a mother could feel things. My son birthday went Monday, I told my son, 'son, please listen to mommy, don't go anywhere. Please.' It hurts me so much. Just like any mother, because lots of mothers cry for their kids. He was loving to his mother. Sometime my son help me wash, chop my yard - the other day our house was leaning. My son helped me fix my house."

Now, Tefanie Francis is left fending for herself and her younger kids. Her eldest son, having been the latest victim of gun violence in the City.

Tefanie Francis- Mother of Deceased
"It hurts me and I know I am not the only person. People bawl before me. I am bawling and I know other people still have to bawl, because a lot of mothers are feeling it. I just don't understand. Nobody loves each other like first. Everybody just hates each other. You think this will make any difference. It won't make it better. All I just wish is that everybody could just stop this, because when you kill one, they go and kill 3. From 3 to 5. What sense that makes?"

So who would want to hurt Dean Nembhard so much that they make an attempt on his life twice in just three weeks?

According his mother, Dean was a stubborn but a free spirited one young man.

Tefanie Francis- Mother of Deceased
"He got shot and he came out of hospital on the same day he is walking, the same spot where he got shot, still greeting people, still go where he knows he does not belong, still around people. I tell my son about company, trust no one. But that was what he choose. He use to tell me that he was tired of living like this. My son said he didn't want to be locked up."

And while police don't have a clear motive at this time, according to their investigations, it might have been this same free spirited nature between gang elements that got him killed.

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"He was part of two of the gangs at the Martin's area."

Reporter
"Which are now rivals?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"They have been rivals for a long time."

Reporter
"Supposedly the talking is that he had said that principals in the other gang - he had them marked for death. Is that why he may have been targeted?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"I cannot tell you exactly, but we have known that there has been a feud between them from he left from one gang and went to the other gang."

Police don't have a suspect at this time but for the family it matters little. They aren't seeking justice or revenge, all they want is peace.

Tefanie Francis- Mother of Deceased
"I don't hate anyone. I forgive the person who hurt my son and that person knows who they are, but I forgive you. It hurts me, but I forgive you all. It don't matter what you all want to think about me. If it could have been me, I wouldn't mind for my son."

Reporter
"Why do you think they targeted him?"

Tefanie Francis- Mother of Deceased
"I know why and the person knows why, but I forgive you, because we know, but I forgive you papa."

Police have been looking for answers as it relates to this latest homicide. Witnesses, however, have not been forthcoming and Nembhard's friends who were with him at the time have not been cooperating with police.