It's a terrible end to the life of a man who in many ways had become a figure of intrigue in Belizean life. I was on the scene to being you the following story - and then spoke to the eyewitness his partner Marybeth a short while ago.

This is the Nissan Pathfinder that Winston "Tanga" James was driving in the last moment of his life.

Eyewitnesses on the scene say that the vehicle was shot at the junction with **Bishop** street but sped away quickly in an attempt to escape. It ultimately crashed against this wall.

Winston "Tanga" James was transported to the KHMH where he was declared dead on arrival.

And so ends the turbulent yet captivating life of the man who the streets called Tanga.

Viewers will remember that James came into popular renown back in October of 2021 when Christina and Mary Beth started hurling insults at each other over social media.

But at the time Tanga was on lock down at the Kolbe foundation.

He along with Brandon Tillett, and brothers, John and Sheldon Grinage others had been charged with the offense of "Using a video recording to gang-related and related activity" That's after they'd brazenly filmed themselves showing off with what looked to all the world like illegal firearms - equipped with extended magazines.

And while he's been out of prison for some time now. He'd still had various court dates to attend, the latest of which was adjourned this morning .That's when our court reporter got this statement from attorney O.J. Elrington.

OJ Elrington, Attorney for the deceased
"He appeared before his lordship the Honorable Justice Lord and there is an application for revocation of his bail. So, but the matter because the matter we presented certain affidavit evidence that we thought would help us for them to withdraw the application for the revocation of bail but the prosecution still has said that they will still proceed with the revocation bail and so they have set the matter for next week."

But that's a court date that Tanga wasn't destined to attend. He'd sheltered from the rain under this court verandah this morning along with Tillett and the Grinage brothers, never realizing that the eyes of a number of other alleged gang members, also standing outside the courtroom, were on them.

Once the rain had cleared up James left the court and headed to his attorney's office on Church Street but that would be his last stop because as he and girlfriend Mary Beth Wade left the office and attempted to cross the bridge to Bishop street they found themselves face to face with a gunman. He stood at the corner and opened fire on the SUV.

He shot James in the throat, but Tanga still managed to speed off down the canal side. Reports are that the vehicle made zigzags as it headed toward Prince street, where it finally crashed into a fence - deep in George Street gang territory.

His passenger and partner Mary Beth Wade was shot - and this evening - still in a hospital gown after self discharging - she told us how it all happened:

Mary Beth Wade, Girlfriend
"So, when I was bending down to unlock my phone, I heard the first bullet gone BOW and I feel my hand went backway, and then he ducked me down, but he was already driving off slowly. The last word he told me was to get down and he push me down in the seat. I was down like this and only my hand was up, because the bullet is coming from through the passenger window, my side they were shooting from. The 2-bullet gone through my hand and one of the bullets is in my hand right now as we speak, because I discharge myself. The other bullet that went through my hand, caught him in his throat. So, he died saving me also, because if he didn't push me down, that bullet would have probably caught me in my chest or my head, because one of the bullets went through the glass right by my temple area. But I didn't see where we were. All I see is he sped off hard, because my head was still down and when the vehicle crashed, I raised my head and said "babe I got shot" and then he just sat in the vehicle catching his breath and blood just sprayed out. I told him to please breathe. I was hollering for help, I couldn't open the door, because it didn't want to open, because of the crash and I had to climb over him breathing to go through his door."

"I asked people to help me. I had to climb over him who is dying. He was a very sweet person and he love ladies, that was the only issue with me, but in the 2 years he was always there for me and I was always there for me no matter what; the whole facebook scandal and everything, I go through a lot with him with women, but I was always there for him, because we knew the relationship we have, they called it toxic, but I loved him and he loved me. We loved each other in our own way. I can't anything bad about him. I was with him for 2 years and he never talk about killing nobody, robbed nobody - do no wrong like that. He always told me that he is all about hustle and make my money, that's it and try build something to left for my kids. And when he was gripping on to me holding me tight, all I could think about was the plans that we made. We said we would start this new year different."

We note that the gang dimensions of this killing are significant - since Tanga James was closely associated with a gang form the Martin's area - and he was killed don the turf of another powerful gang. Police expect there could be waves of retaliation.