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Taiwanese Businessman Killed in Camalote Home Invasion
posted (September 24, 2019)
62 Year old Ching-Sung Chen was shot and killed in his home during a robbery and home invasion on Sunday morning. It's a harrowing story of a father being ripped away from his family as he fought with his last breath to protect them. Cherisse Halsall reports.

Cherisse Halsall reporting
The Chen family could never have imagined the tragic events that unfolded on Sunday morning.

Ching-Sung Chen was either asleep or on the brink of sleep in the lower flat of the building that housed his business E-Star Store and his residence, when he heard noises alerting him to intruders. His son Bing describes what happened next.

Voice of: Bing Chen, Son of the deceased
"It happened about 1:20 to 1:30 this morning."

Reporter:
"You were sleeping?"

Bing Chen, Son of the deceased
"We were sleeping and we heard the gunshot and my dad was shouting he was like screaming and then we hurry and turn on the lights and then we saw two guys two robbers right by the cashier, and then we tried to stop them they pointed guns at us and we hurry and told them go away go away. This took about 5 minutes and then they were gone, and then we hurry and called the police and when I got done I saw my dad he was on the spot and he's dying."

Reporter:
"How many shots did he get?"

Bing Chen, Son of the deceased
"Four shots he got one on his right hand and then one on his left hand. One to the left of his head, two on his back."

"Yes he was inside alone and then, I believe he was still awake and he saw them, I believe he tried to stop them so they didn't go upstairs to do anything to us. So he tried to protect us very well."

Police say that the robbers were masked and came in through the back window

Joseph Myvette, Assistant COMPOL
"What we know so far is that Mr. Sung was inside his store which was locked up when shortly before 1:30am he heard some noises within the store and when he got up to inquire that was when two masked assailants who were armed fired upon him causing the fatal injuries, as a result his son who was on the second floor heard gunshots and came down to investigate where he observed two male persons in the area of the cash register, going through the cash register and searching other items within the store as a result of them seeing him they then made good their escape. What we observe so far is that entry seemed to have been gained through an unsecured window at the back of the building. We have commenced a thorough investigation into this matter. So far we do not have any suspects but we are following several leads at this time. We do believe the motive was robbery."

There have been a string of robberies and murders involving Chinese and Taiwanese nationals recently and the Chinese association is fed up, they have condemned the cruel acts of violence and highlighted three specific instances for which they have offered rewards in the amount of $1000 for information leading to arrests and $5000 upon conviction of those responsible.

The events in question are: The Murder of Xu Jing Zhang at Chen's Store in Bella Viista, Stann Creek. The Injury of Huang Rui Hong at Shun Feng Convenience Store on Fabers Road and The Murder of Ching-Sung Chen at E-Star Store in Camalote.

The Chinese and Taiwanese communities are not the only people who are hurt and saddened by the murder of Ching Sung. His neighbors in Camalote are also mourning his tragic loss and demanding that this hateful act not be condoned.

Voice Of: NEIGHBOR
"Well actually It was Sunday morning when I got the news. I was awakened by that news it was a shock. I couldn't believe it because these are productive people of our society and very good neighbors actually we take them as family around here cause they have been around here for maybe about two years or a little bit more. So they have already became part of this family because around here all of us neighbors we are one family each and every one of us you see around here are one family."

"Everytime you see that man he's always doing something if he's not fixing a vehicle doing some electrical work he's working in the yard rooting up the grass and taking up the weeds burning fires or something never sits that's how I know him."

"I couldn't believe something like this would have happened right before our eyes I always watch it on TV they're interviewing people in other parts of the country and mein it hit home it's really hard."

"From my opinion it's gotta be somebody that knows the area. That's what I'm thinking."

"We are a peaceful community we can't condone this kind of senseless thing man. Way inside your house your not safe anymore. It's inside your house they're coming now take away your privacy and everything that's not right so I'm appealing to the community man if anybody know something man, if it's your child come out and say something. we can't condone it you do the crime you gotta pay the penalty."

Police say that Chen's assailants escaped the same way they came in before fleeing into the bushes. He leaves behind two children in Belize. Chen had been living in Camalote for 2 years.

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