And, now to the weekend's murders. There are two of them to report - and both sprang from underworld dealings: one is gang related, and the other drug related.
We start early on Saturday morning at mile 3 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. At 1:45 police were called out o the area by passersby who saw a Chevy Trailblazer which looked like it had crashed.
But when they looked inside, they saw a dead man. Jose Manuel Ayala was on the passenger side of his own vehicle with five gunshot wounds to the head. It's a merciless execution, meant to send a message, and Police told us it's related to gang rivalries in the Jane Usher Area:...
ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City
"Police were called to 3 miles Phillip Goldson Highway where upon arrival they observed a white in color Trailblazer facing eastern westward direction. Inside of the vehicle police observed the motionless body of a male person who was later identified as Jose Manuel Ayala, a Belizean of Freedom Street. Upon inspection of his body police saw that he had multiple gunshot wounds to the face area. Initial information that the police have gathered is that Jose Manuel Ayala was seen early in the night attending a social event at the Supal area and that was the last night he was seen alive."
Reporter
"Is Mr. Ayala known to police?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes he is known to police."
Reporter
"Have you been able to establish who is the owner of that vehicle."
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"That is his vehicle."
Reporter
"Has it been establish who was driving the vehicle?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"No,"
Reporter
"Any suepects at this time?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Police had detained several persons for questioning but they had to release because of insufficient evidence."
Reporter
"Anything to indicate if he was killed in that particular area?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes, there were some expended shells that were found inside the vehicle."
Reporter
"The family said that he was going to Belmopan to do some sort of transaction. Have you been able to follow what sort of transaction?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"There are many leads that we are following up. It was not a drug related incident. We suspect that it is something internal among those persons in the Jane Usher area."
Reporter
"That is was gang related?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes, we believe so."
We note that Ayala lived within the turf of the Jane Usher gang members who were detained as suspects. Our information suggests that he may have been targeted for execution because gang leaders in the area felt he had been disloyal. Police quickly detained those gang members, but as you heard, they have been released.
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