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It happened at around 8:00 that night in a cluster of apartments above the White Horse Club. Police told us how a cop who lives there - was off duty in his room when he responded to find the killer fleeing:...

ASP Alejandro Cowo- OC, CIB Belize City
"Police constable Mr. Campos, who resides in the same apartment building, was inside of his room along with his wife when he heard a commotion coming out from one of the rooms of the apartment. As a result, as he stepped out of his room he observed a male person running out from Mr. Valdez's room holding a knife and observed what looked like suspected blood on his shirt. He made an attempt to subdue this person however he was approached by the male person with the knife and after a little struggle he managed to disarm the man and subdue him. Thereafter, he visited the room where he found Mr. Valdez apparently motionless, with several apparent stab wounds to the chest and stomach area."

Reporter
"Is there any motive as yet as to the dispute between the suspect?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We cannot exactly tell you if it was a dispute. There was a commotion where people were speaking with a loud tone of voice and that is what caught the officers attention. We know that one of the family members of the suspect who is Mr. Gilbert Antonio Chanek resides at that same building and he was visiting that family member there. What we know is that yes, they know each other for a long time and that he has been frequenting that same location for over two years because a family member resides at that location along with Mr. Valdez. Not in the same room but in the other rooms in the apartment area. Based on that, on Sunday San Pedro police arrested and charged Mr. Gilbert Antonio Chanek, 23 years old, for that crime of murder."

Reporter
"Sir, you didn't receive any kind of reports from the family about this guy suffering from mental illness for a while?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"No, there is nothing to substantiate that fact. That is what the family members are claiming but they, up to now, have not shown any documents to prove that he has been seen by a doctor or anybody qualified to say that yes, this person is suffering from that kind of illness."

Valdez had two stab wounds to the left side of his chest, one to the center of his chest, another to the left lower abdomen, another to the mid-section and three to the right side of his abdomen. Police recovered a 6 inch knife - which is believed to be the murder weapon. As you heard, 23 year old Chanek has been charged for Murder and Aggravated Assault.