7 News Belize

Man Executed in Ruthless Home Invasion
posted (February 4, 2019)
During the last 18 hours, 4 persons lost their lives traumatically in the Belize and Corozal Districts: 1 to gun violence and 3 to fatal traffic accidents.

We begin our newscast tonight with last last night's gun murder of 33 year-old Shawn Hemmans, a resident of Kings Park Belize City. He was over at a family friend's house, located on Saint Thomas Street, and they were watching the Superbowl. Hemmans took a brief moment to enjoy some fresh air on the verandah of his friend's house, and his killer pounced on that small window of opportunity.

Our news team followed the story today, and Daniel Ortiz found out that the gunman ended the life of a working man. Here's his report:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
33 year-old Shawn Hemmans was shot and killed on the steps of this house on St. Thomas Street last night. He was enjoying the NFL Super Bowl with a friend on the upper flat, when a gunman barged into the yard and shot him several times, execution style.

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"What police gathered so far is that just after about 7 p.m., Mr. Hemmans was at a yard located on Saint Thomas Street, watching the Super Bowl, and after the half time, he came out to the verandah to have a drink. Whilst on the verandah, he was called out by someone. As he went down the stairs, people heard a variety of shots being fired. Later on, a male person who was with him inside the house, came out and found him with the several gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital, however, he succumbed to his injuries later on that night."

The calculated nature of this gun murder suggests some sort of underworld connection, but neither police nor Hemman's family have any reason to suspect that he was involved in that type of activity.

Reporter
"Was he involved in any kind of activity, criminal or underworld or otherwise?"

Voice of: Brother of the Deceased
"Not as far as I know."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We don't have nothing in regards to Mr. Hemmans. We know him to be a person who likes to socialize. He is a person who frequents many establishment. But, as a person who is involved in any illegal activities? No, we don't have any records to say that."

Reporter
"This particular residence is known quite commonly in the neighborhood that from this residence, weed is sold. Is it believed that this may have contributed to this particular shooting? And is it believed that Mr. Hemmans was the intended target?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, it is a house that has been searched several times by police, and it is of concern because of several persons of different characters have been frequenting that area. At this time, we cannot tell you if Mr. Hemmans was the intended target, or not, but there were only 2 persons inside the house: him and another person."

But, whether or not he was the intended target does not matter because at the end of the day, another Belize City family must come to terms with the fact that gun violence has come to their doorstep.

Voice of: Brother of the Deceased
"As an individual, he was very jovial, in the sense of always trying to make everybody happy, trying to make everybody laugh. He worked basically for what he wanted, always staying on the right path as best as possible."

Reporter
"So, how are you guys dealing, coping right now with the loss?"

Voice of: Brother of the Deceased
"I think for us, basically, it is hard, but because of our spiritual beliefs, and believing in Jesus Christ, we are dealing with it as best as possible."

Reporter
"Do you all think that they will catch this man who shot and killed him?"

Voice of: Brother of the Deceased
"I guess hope; hope is what we're resting on. Regardless of what we've seen, we're hoping for the very best, and we're hoping that the justice system will take its course, and to deal with the situation as best as possible."

Hemmans was a licensed tour guide operator, and he leaves behind 3 brothers, and 3 sisters.

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