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Marty Offline OP
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In unfortunate news, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye has its first death case of the year as an assailant of an attempted robbery was shot dead. The attempted robbery took place on Marina Drive on the south side of San Pedro, just beyond the DFC neighborhood. Reports indicate that the assailant opened fire on the victim, who then returned fire and fatally shot his would be robber.

According to the Police Report, on Sunday, January 19, 2014, at about 11:50p.m., 24 year old, Kirian Azueta, of San Pedro Town visited the station and reported that sometime around 10:15p.m. he arrived home on his golf cart at his gate and upon getting off to open the gate he was approached by two male persons. The report stated that one of the assailants was dressed in a black 'hood-type' sweater with markings "TEXAS TECH" on the front, a black warm hat over his face, a rag over his mouth and a green (or grey) silky pants. He was of fair complexion and armed with a black 9mm pistol. The second assailant came out of the bushes unarmed and was dressed in a white 'hoody-type' sweater with a rag over his mouth.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the Ambergris Today



Michael Wallace shot and killed during robbery attempt

According to the preliminary police investigation, Azueta was approached by two of the three perpetrators who came out from the nearby bushes. One was dressed in a black "hood" type sweater with markings "TEXAS TECH" on the front. He had a black warm hat over his face and a rag over his mouth, green or grey silky pants and was armed with a black in color 9 millimeter pistol. Azueta told police that the person with the gun was of fair complexion. The other person was dressed in a white "hood" type sweater, had a rag over his mouth and was unarmed. According to Azueta, the male person with the black "hood" then reportedly pointed the gun in his face and told him not to move and not to reach for his gun and at the same time the armed assailant fired a shot at him but missed. Azueta claims that he then managed to pull out his firearm and returned several shots at the male person with the gun after which he ran to his neighbors' house and called the police.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun


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Good Guys 1 Bad Guys 0...

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Yes!!

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For those of us who have known the living and dead since they were little kids and also know their families - it's not as simple as a score.
This is one community - In reality everybody lost in one way or another.

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Hopefully the two surviving robbers are fully identified and not only charged with the Burglary and Robbery but also for causing the death of their counterpart. Had they not tried to rob the victim, he would not have had to shoot the third offender.

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I don't disagree AT ALL that EVERYONE lost! As a victim myself, without a way to protect myself in the situation, the feeling of fear/helplessness/complete unbelievablily, after having done absolutely nothing wrong except trying to help people, I don't have pity for those that put other's lives and livelihoods in jeopardy. There are countless options available, and I understand on various levels why the easy road is taken, but we all know the difference between right and wrong. This person was clearly prepared to take someone else's life. I am very happy the other man was able to protect himself.

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Totally agree! The victim was licensed and prepared to defend himself. One less person to plug up the central prison. Well done!





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Agreeing with literaly everybody here, I think we are missing something that I think is most important: We don't want to become a Wild West with everybody carrying guns and shooting at each other. We depend on tourism and news like this deters tourism. Michael choose the wrong path and rightfully got killed by Kirian in self defence. Nobody You Know (or somebody I do know), you are right: "Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0". I would like to add: "Tourism 0, Chaos 1".

Hopefully experiences like this will deter the bad guys, but this place needs to get safer, and I don't only mean San Pedro, but the whole of Belize. I am not blaming anybody, but the Government can work harder to prevent crime. Crime originates from poverty and desperation. "A rising tide lifts all boats" (John F Kennedy), fix the economy and leave all the other political pastime stuff. I know our Government works hard and does their upmost best to preserve integraty (although you wouldn'd think that reading the news), they need to focus at the economy alone imho.

Belize is doing more than reasonably well compared to the Caribbean, but really bad compared to Central America. 20 years ago we were one of the richest country pro capita, now we are one of the poorest. I have no illusions, Dean Barrow is worn out, but the next government (be it UDP or PUP) neeeds to make some big decisions. And I would like to end my rant with: "I Have a Dream" (Martin Luther King).

Thanks for readimg my rubbish,
Short



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So sorry this had to happen but I identify with posters who have been victims of crime with no means of self defense (defence?). Yes, these types of stories have become more prevalent of late and do impact tourism as do the stories of corruption in government. So sad.

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Marty Offline OP
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Kill Or Be Killed For Man Who Shoots Robber Dead

Last night in San Pedro, it was killed or be killed for 24 year old, Kirian Azueta.

3 men tried to rob him at his gate when he got home. But Azueta, dodged a bullet from one of the assailants and then made a split second decision, drew his weapon, and fired back at the men. He ended up killing one of them. Today, 7News went to the island, and Daniel Ortiz found out more:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
This house on Marina Drive on San Pedro Town was the scene of a failed armed robbery which ended when the would be victim pulled his licensed weapon and shot at men who ambushed him in the dark and secluded area.

Supt. Luis Castellanos, O/C - San Pedro
"Last night about 10:30pm which would have been the 19th January, 2014 - Kirian Azueta, 24 years old accountant of Marina Drive of san Pedro Town reported that whilst he was going to his residence, once he gotten out of his gulf cart and open his gate, 3 persons approach him and they held him up and in the process one of the robbers fired a shot and he responded and fired several shots as well."

The gunman nearly shot Azueta in the face, and when he saw how serious these 3 men were, he pulled his licensed firearm and shot at them.

Residents in the area say that they heard a single shot, then about 7 more. Azueta thought the men ran off; he didn't know that he had killed one of them.

That man, 24 year-old Michael Wallace, was found in the bushes on this rubble pile.

It was the same man who shot at him in the Texas Cash Hoodie, with the green bandana over his face

Supt. Luis Castellanos, O/C - San Pedro
"This morning ar about 8am we were called to the scene again that the body of a person was lying right beside the residence of the gentleman and as such we responded to and we recovered the dead body of a person by the name of Michael Wallace, date of birth 12/3/89 unemployed of San Juan area of San Pedro Town. He was seen suffering from some gunshot wounds to the chest and based on the description that the gentleman gave to us matches the description of the same person he alleges to have robbed him or attempted to rob him last night."

"From the person we retrieve from the scene, we found a 9mm on the crime scene which was right beside the person who as deceased. The deceased is not the holder of a firearm license; so far we are treating it as an unlicensed firearm."

So, with the positive description, and the weapon that was recovered, all evidence points to Michael Wallace as the armed robber who Azueta shot in self-defense.

Police also say that Azueta's house was burglarized, and so they believe, that since these men made the attempt robbery, they are also the burglars.

Supt. Luis Castellanos, O/C - San Pedro
"We discovered this morning that apparently the residence was burglarized, so we are taking it that the investigation is a burglary/robbery. We believe that like I said the gentleman is the owner of a license firearm, so it could be that we are speculating that they went for his firearm and we are investigating if that may also be the case."

San Pedro Police say that at this time, Kirian Azueta is not being detained. 7News understands that this is the second time that robbers have held him up. Today, we attempted to speak with Michael Wallace's family, but they declined any interviews.

We note that this is the second apparent self defence killing on the island in four weeks. In December, 21 year old Ajlan Requena was killed by a Chinese Grocer.

Channel 7


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Might I suggest a nice flashlight for defenseless woman like myself (other than my "cat like" scratching abilities)? flashlight




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I appreciate Short's time taken for expressing his opinion. I must add my own as I feel that it represents another viewpoint. I would edit Short's addition to the following: "Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0. Tourism 1, Chaos 0". (Although I would not have chosen tourism:chaos to begin with)

As a person who accepts the responsibility of defending myself, I am glad to see that carrying a (licensed) firearm is allowed in the area that I will be vacationing in.

Some crime originates from poverty and desperation, but certainly not all. There has been and always will be people that do not possess general decency towards their fellow man. It is in those instances that a person must accept their responsibility to protect themselves or simply hand their fate over to the other person.

I would much rather be a tourist traveling to an area that allows lawful use of firearms for self defense than traveling to an area where only the criminals are carrying firearms.

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While it is fine that the "bad guy gets shot by a good guy with a gun", somehow I think the residents and visitors to San Pedro look past gun laws for a better solution to a growing crime problem on the island and in Belize in general.

When I first came to Belize 13 years ago, the island was a sleepy little place. No ATM's, dirt streets and it seemed everyone knew everyone. Over the years the island has faced the same problems many other areas of the world have encountered.

When the construction boom started a while back, it seemed like workers were coming to the island from all over Central America. The schools started looking really crowded and the streets seemed full of kids in the evenings. I noticed gang graffiti on buildings. Los Angeles gang graffiti of all places. Then when the big economic downturn happened, the island was left with unfinished projects and lots of migrant workers.

So now with schools over populated, no real organized youth sports programs, no real jobs for teens and a severe lack of jobs training programs, especially for the tourism trades such as the hotel and restaurant industry, what is the outcome?

When we last visited in June, the Five a Side arena was in shambles and the soccer field looked like a war zone.

Stopping crime is not just the job of the police, it takes an entire village.

There are some mighty fine residents in San Pedro that work VERY hard at improving the island. I think it's time for the GOB, the Town Council and the BTB, along with local business leaders to establish some high yield return programs for the island youth of all ages for sports, education and job training opportunities. They are the future of San Pedro, invest in them now. IMHO

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"There are some mighty fine residents in San Pedro that work VERY hard at improving the island. I think it's time for the GOB, the Town Council and the BTB, along with local business leaders to establish some high yield return programs for the island youth of all ages for sports, education and job training opportunities. They are the future of San Pedro, invest in them now. IMHO"

Could not agree more, the youth on this island have very little to keep them busy constructively, I along with others have been trying to get a vocational school here for all the kids who cannot attend regular schools for one reason or another, also a youth center where the kids could go and feel safe and have a place to call their own. The young are all our future we must invest in them now.


If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.
A bullet fired,cannot be called back.
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I was always amazed that the island din't have a big pier with swim lanes and a couple of diving boards and slides for water sports. Free warm water to host swim meets in year around.

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Agreed, Tracker! (and reaper!)

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Dang, Reaper FINALLY said something that makes sense grin !

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Whatever the circumstances someone getting shot and killed isn't good. A good family is grieving for a lost son brother and I doubt killing someone, however justified, sits easily for most.

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I say one less dirt bag around. If you feel so bad Phil, why don't you pay to put his sorry butt in the ground and help this good family out. He is a product of his up bringing.

At least the guy who shot him did us all a favor, I know I wouldn't want to be shot at. Hell just got a little fuller but I'm sure there is more room for more.

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God made men, but Sam Colt made them equal. Col. Samuel Colt's revolver continues to serve as an equalizer. Being bigger, tougher and meaner than the next guy isn't worth much if the next guy carries a gun, even if there is three of you.

Bad attitude and big muscles make a poor match for a lead slug.

The reason is simple: Firearms reduce the power difference between the weak and the strong. They make it harder for the strong to prey upon the weak. Being strong doesn't help much when you're dead.

That's all I have to say about that.

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I know our Government works hard and does their upmost best to preserve integraty (although you wouldn'd think that reading the news), they need to focus at the economy alone imho.

Though certainly not intended, this may be the funniest thing I have ever read here.

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Originally Posted by MurryT
I say one less dirt bag around. If you feel so bad Phil, why don't you pay to put his sorry butt in the ground and help this good family out. He is a product of his up bringing.

At least the guy who shot him did us all a favor, I know I wouldn't want to be shot at. Hell just got a little fuller but I'm sure there is more room for more.


Wanker. A stupid one at that.

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Some people don't understand where they live. This is a village culture on an island and everyone is connect by blood,friendship or bussiness. The town turned out for his funeral in mass to show respect for the family of this young man who took a wrong turn in his youth.
Some Gringos make me ashamed of being one.


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Agree with Elbert 100%.

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There are a lot of Ugly Americans on AC, as there are all over the world.......

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For anyone who has bought drugs here or gets shitfaced with young people, or has sex with a young person who is supporting their family, you are part of the problem. It is easy to condemn but not so easy to take responsibilyt for our own behavior.
Many local and visiting families have members struggling with addiction issues. Many robberies are done to feed habits.
Any time a person buys pot, coke, or whatever, they feed the problem.

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They are called neighbors. Its sad for everyone involved. Everyone looses


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And agree with Pam and Katie 100%.

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For anyone who has bought drugs here or gets shitfaced with young people, or has sex with a young person who is supporting their family, you are part of the problem. It is easy to condemn but not so easy to take responsibilyt for our own behavior.
Many local and visiting families have members struggling with addiction issues. Many robberies are done to feed habits.
Any time a person buys pot, coke, or whatever, they feed the problem.

Totally agree with Pam!

That is where it stops. Most cultures mourn deaths (and tragic ones like this) - Belize is not all that special / not that different. This attacker made a decision and left the intended victim no decision. Makes you wonder how this would have turned out if he had attacked an unarmed gringo and got away with the crime. Hmmmm

BOTTOM LINE: HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN DEMISE. All societies have obstacles (even in the US - been to a tent city or homeless shelter lately?), but individuals make their own choices. Sad, but true. I actually feel more sympathy for the person who took a life and may have regrets....

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People make choices and sometimes people make really bad choices and their parents and families and friends grieve.

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Yes and that happens all over the world - Belize is not really all that "special" in this regard....

Last edited by SnoopysMom; 01/22/14 04:19 PM. Reason: spelling
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