We met with the grieving family of 46 year old Santiago Rajo this morning in Teakettle village, and they say that the string of robberies occurring within their village leaves no one safe. Jomarie Lanza reports.

That's the sound of the gunshots that echoed through the village of Teakettle early Sunday morning - the same ones that claimed the life of Santiago Rajo.

Rajo was a labourer and preacher at La Iglesia Monte Horeb and his kids described him as a loving and God fearing man. But perhaps these same traits, by simply being his brother's keeper is what led him directly into the path of danger that dark morning. He was gunned down at the corner of the street in front of his home after going to check on his brother who had been assaulted and robbed along with his family.

Voice of: Reynaldo Carillo, Son in law of Deceased
"What happened here is that his brother, he walked out around 1:00 in the morning to go and use the bathroom and that was when he was ambushed. Three men, masked men the held him down and went in his house and took his wife and took her out, they took him inside and told them to take everything that he has and to take everything with value and then the son I think he is in his teens about 12 or 13 he told them to leave his dad alone and that's when they took a gun and pointed it to his head and told him that he will shoot him and that's when his father jumped in and got beat up bad in the face. They were about to shoot him but one of the masked men said to leave him alone because they don't want to get in trouble so they went away and at that moment his brothers wife called my father in law and told him that they got robbed and so he came out right here and my father in law came right here and went down the lane because I think he wanted to see or identify who it was. He was right here at his home he just took a little walk right to the back and I am not sure what happened in that instant but when he came these guys were in a stolen motorcycle because they stole the motorcycle from his brother and there I couldn't say if they identified him, I'm not sure if they were unmasked I'm not sure what happened there but they shot him twice and he fell on the ground and it was something instant."

Voice of: Diani Rajo Carillo, Daughter of Deceased
"Well my uncle said that he was ambushed, that they were robbing them, that they were beaten and pointed at with guns to their face and to their head and after the robbers left with the motorcycle and I don't know what else they took. Well my aunt she was obviously scared because who wouldn't be, and she called my dad."

"My dad is a person that he is always willing to help and be there for his family and well he was on the phone with them and then my uncle came and told my dad what happened. And well I wasn't here but my dad I don't know, I guess he heard the motorcycle because the robbers had taken the motorcycle and I think they managed to turn it on I don't know how because they couldn't get the key either and my dad was just standing on the road side when the motorcycle passed. I don't know if they confused him with my uncle or maybe they thought it was my uncle who was going after them I don't know and they just shot him and well my dad he didn't last long he died right there."

Rajo now leaves behind his wife and 5 children. His eldest daughter says she never imagined that her father would end up leaving them this way.

Voice of: Diani Rajo Carillo, Daughter of Deceased
"He was the first elder for Monte Horeb Best Day Church. He was always happy and always had a smile on his face. He was always singing or whistling because he liked to whistle and whenever we would know my dad is coming because he is always whistling and the dogs too they just hear the car and they would just start barking and we would know that he is coming. And my dad was a very helpful person even if he didn't know you he would always be willing to help and he was just a I would say a great example for many of us and it's sad because I mean I always think about death and I know my parents would someday all of us will die but I never expected it to be this way because it really hurts."

There has been a string of robberies occurring within the village for as long as this family can remember. They believe that the majority of them succeed due to a lack of police presence:

Voice of: Reynaldo Carillo, Son in law of Deceased
"This is not the first time that this has happened. From I came here this has always been happening and the thing is that they have always been targeting those persons that are always working hard. My wife's uncle he has a lime place there too and they are always trying to steal right there. It has happened a lot. A lot of incidents happen here, police come and nothing is done, the case closes and then we don't hear anything about what happens. We don't see them here and it's something sad right because we expect them to be here and to serve the community but we don't see anything happening."

ACP Romero says that police are investigating the suspected robbery ring and they also have several suspects on hand.

ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division
"We have several persons in custody for this investigation."

Reporter-
"The family believes that these persons may be involved in some sort of a burglary ring. Do you have any information to suggest that?"

ACP Hilberto Romero, OC Eastern Division
"Yes we are following up on several leads so those persons will be questioned today and see what comes out of the investigation."