It's been three weeks since Belize City's last murder, but tonight, the family of a well known taxi driver is in mourning. 42 year old Shawn Ortiz Campbell was killed this morning as he headed home after a night of socializing.
The incident has left his family in disbelief since Campbell is no stranger to the establishment he was at and he is no troublemaker.
Courtney Menzies visited his home today where his family gathered. Here is that story.
A father of six was fatally stabbed early this morning on Faber's Road as he left Stephen's Place - otherwise known as Radiance Cool Spot. 42-year-old Shawn Ortiz Campbell had been hanging out with a friend but reportedly got into a fight with a group of men at the corner of Jaguar Avenue, leading to his injuries. By 5 this morning, Campbell was already declared dead.
Campbell was a cab driver who raised chickens in his spare time. With such a quiet life, his brother, Giovanni Moody, told us that, hours later, their family still can't believe the news.
Giovanni Moody, Brother of Deceased
"I received a call from a family friend informing me that she heard the news that my brother was killed. And so I got up immediately, I checked my phone and I saw a message from my sister who said that she had sad news and immediately, I picked up the phone and called her and she told me that they killed Big Shawn last night because that is what he's known as. And I went to the hospital and that confirmed that my brother had been killed."
"Up to this point I still can't believe he has passed. I'm sitting here with my aunt and family members and we're all still in shock. Shawn was a cool guy, my brother is a taxi operator. I think anyone who caught him or used his service could attest to the fact that he was humble. And he was a loving, sweet guy. He loved his kids, that much I'm sure of. So I can't help but feel for them who now will have to live without a father for the rest of their life."
And Moody says that Campbell frequented the establishment, but was never targeted before.
Giovanni Moody, Brother of Deceased
"Shawn visited Radiance, not every Sunday but from time to time he would go there because I've met him there before. Radiance is not an establishment to have issues or these type of things so I was surprised it happened in front of Radiance."
"I have heard several different versions or different stories, I was not there and I am not one to entertain heresy. I am hopeful that the police will do what they have to do in terms of crime and investigation and hopefully will be arrested and charged for my brother's death."
Courtney Menzies:
"But as far as you know he didn't really have any enemies?"
Giovanni Moody, Brother of Deceased
"Not to my knowledge. Like I said, he's a taxi man, he basically travel the entire city taking different persons so learning of his death is definitely a shock, still a shock. And it will continue to be a shock."
And now this grieving will have to lean on each other for support:
Giovanni Moody, Brother of Deceased
"We are basically depending on each other's comfort, the good memories that he left behind and that will have to take us through to the funeral process and even after that."
Police are seeking three suspects.
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