We often hear of murder in Belize City, Belmopan, Orange Walk, and
Cayo, but rarely in Benque Viejo. But last night at 7:15, a robbery attempt
in that western municipality turned to murder when a brave shop-assistant tried
to defend his boss’s store from an armed robber. He pulled the boss’s
shotgun to counter the robber’s pistol, but the assistant’s clumsiness
with the weapon proved to be a costly miscalculation. Jacqueline Godwin has
more.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
A candle remains lit inside the Rosy Store where thirty six year old Jesus Ponce
was shot multiple times. He later died while being rushed to the San Ignacio
Hospital. Ironically Juana Ponce says her son was a long time friend of storeowner
Abel Silva Sr. and that he loved working for the family; he even told her that
if he could he would give his life for them. That is exactly what came to pass
last night when a lone gunman held up Ponce as he sat outside the store. The
gunman forced him inside the shop towards the Silva family. Abel Silva Sr. says
the gunman told him to get on the floor.
Abel Silva Sr., Storeowner
“But I just kneeled down and then he said he wants the money. So I 
told them to give them the money and so my granddaughter opened where the money
were and he jumped the counter and took it out and put it in his shirt pocket.
But Mr. Jesus went to the back where I had my shotgun and he took it but I think
he couldn’t handle it.”
Rosa Juan says when she heard about the robbery she ran towards the building,
not realizing that the robbery was in progress.
Rosa Juan, Daughter of Storeowner
“But I did not know that the guy was there with the gun. My dad was
on the ground kneeling down because when he came in he said everybody on the
ground. So my daughter got shocked. She stand up there and only my dad went
to the ground.”
It was during the commotion that Jesus Ponce went to the back of the shop where
he knew his friend’s pump twelve shot gun was stored. But as he struggled
to use the weapon and ordered the gunman to put down his gun, that’s when
the robber opened fire.
Rosa Juan,
“He was cranking the rifle but it has a safety, you crank it and you
take off the safety and just…”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So it sounds like he was struggling, he didn’t know how to use the gun?
Rosa Juan,
“Maybe his nerves and he didn’t remember it has a safety. So
when the guy jumped over the next side from the inside, he jumped and he was 
pointing at my dad and he said drop the gun or I will shoot your dad he said.
So my dad to please don’t shoot, it is my family.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Did you see Jesus shortly after he was shot?
Rosa Juan,
“Yes because afterwards I came in, I saw the blood, and then I saw
him laying down. He was holding his hand like this and I was asking him if he
was nervous and where he got shot and he was just ah ah answering but thank
God Jesus didn’t take off the safety from the rifle otherwise my dad,
me, maybe my mom, my daughter were going to be dead because the shell that that
had, when that explode it just goes like that and I just thank God he didn’t
take off the safety.”
Belize Police do have a suspect, he has been identified as 22 year old Guatemalan
Francisco De Jesus Garcia, a resident of Melchor de Mencos. Reports are that
earlier on Monday, police did stop and search Garcia because he looked suspicious.
Today they strongly believe he is the person who committed the murder.
Rosa Juan,
“That description that my daughter gave him is the same person that
in the evening they searched. They got his particulars and everything. Apparently
he was dressed the same way he came in the store.”
After hearing the noise and seeing the gunman run away, area residents chased
him.
Rosa Juan,
“I started to scream. I was screaming, shouting.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
I understand nearby residents apparently chased the gunman?
Rosa Juan,
“Well yes a lot of neighbours started to chase him but they couldn’t
catch him. Maybe he went across the river or hide somewhere in the bush and
they couldn’t.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
We even heard reports that shortly after the incident a helicopter was heard
and even BDF soldiers were brought in and dropped into the area to look for
the gunman?
Rosa Juan,
“Yes I heard a helicopter because it came this side here and then
from there I don’t know what else.”
Reports are that Benque Police and their counterparts in neighbouring Guatemala
have been cooperating to try and catch the killer but Juana Ponce who has lost
two other sons says she will pray to god for strength and justice.
Juana Ponce, Mother of Murder Victim
“I never believed that my son would have died this way, that this
would never happen. I know that in Belize there is a lot of crime but I never
believe he would have been a victim of such violence.”
It was the second time in four years that Rosy’s Store has been robbed
but it is the first time that someone was killed in the act. Jacqueline Godwin
reporting for 7News.
Residents of Benque Viejo have called out for increased police presence.
Indications are that the robber left with no more than thirty dollars.
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