A prominent Belize City businessman shot and killed a man over the weekend and tonight police say the shooting may have been justified. The dead man is 23-year-old Shawn Copious and he was killed by 30-year-old Chayben Abou-Nehra, more commonly known as Ben.

The official story from police is that around 3:30 on Saturday morning Abou-Nehra arrived at his home near the corner of Lottie Waight Street and Meighan Avenue and found Copious in his yard. Abou-Nehra told police he asked the man what he was doing there and that is when he claims that Copious advanced on him with in a menacing manner. Abou-Nehra says that is when drew his licensed 9 millimeter. Abou-Nehra fired as many as 6 shots, killing Copious.

Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid says that a large meat cleaver was found on the deceased. Reid adds that Abou-Nehra spent 48 hours in police custody. But he has been released without charges, as police say investigations continue. And as Copious lies in the morgue awaiting an autopsy, his mother Caroline wonders why her only child was killed.

Caroline Copious, Deceased's Mother
"I saw my son in that state and I know they really meant to kill my son. The whole of him was bruised very badly and there was blood running out of his nose and his mouth and his teeth was broken out. He was ugly, he looked brutalized."

Keith Swift,
What do you think happened to your son?

Caroline Copious,
"That they beat him, they really beat him bad before they shot him."

Keith Swift,
But you wouldn't deny that your son was in this man's yard and he wasn't supposed to be there?

Caroline Copious,
"I don't know because by the time my son left from here, how could he gone into anyone's house when he was going to the fair. He told me he was going to the fair."

Keith Swift,
What do you think happened Friday night? How did he end up in this man's yard?

Caroline Copious,
"It's a mystery, it's a mystery. I feel tore open right now."

Lawrence Maheia, Deceased's Stepfather
"The police didn't satisfy us with this investigation at all. All they told us is to go the morgue and wait for them for the autopsy; no satisfaction for the mother. The man came up to us at the CIB, the brother of the man who shot Shawn and offered us $3,000 to bury Shawn. We took the money because we really need to bury our son, not because we want to be bought over."

Keith Swift,
So you wouldn't take that as a bribe?

Lawrence Maheia,
"No its not a bribe, its just to help bury the son."

Caroline Copious,
"I don't think he is looking to buy over the family because it's in the police's hands."

A decision on whether to charge Abou-Nehra ultimately lies with the DPP. Press Officer G. Michael Reid says the police have already forwarded the case file. We note that Copious has had numerous run-ins with the law and was on trial for handling stolen goods. He has a previous conviction for theft. In that regard, Abou-Nehra was also accused of shooting a man earlier this year at BTL Park but no charges were brought in that case.