One DJ Dead, Another Critical After Corozal Shooting

A late-night shooting in Corozal Town has shaken residents yet again, leaving one popular DJ dead and another fighting for his life. Roger Escalante, a well-known DJ from Consejo Village, was gunned down in the Halls Layout area, while fellow DJ Ezer Alcoser survived the attack but remains in critical condition tonight. The brazen violence has rattled residents and reignited concerns about safety in the northern municipality. Police are now racing to piece together what led to the shooting, as grieving relatives and community leaders demand answers, and an end to the bloodshed. Shane Williams has the story.

 

Shane Williams Reporting…

“Sometime around 7:40 last night, local DJs Roger Escalante and Israel Alcocer had just arrived here at the Alcocer residence in the Halls Layout area of Corozal Town. They came to reload steel and other materials for a construction job they were set to complete. At this time, a gunman lay waiting, ambushed the two, and fired several shots. You can still see some of the bullet holes in this metal fence. The gunman followed them inside, ignoring Alcocer and finishing off Escalante.”

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“ What the investigation has thus far disclosed is that Escalante and another male person had arrived at the residence on Flamboyant Street, and shortly thereafter, they were approached by an SUV and a male person exited that SUV, an armed male person, who fired several shots, resulting in the demise of Escalante and the injury of Alcoser. We don’t know if they were the intended targets. I won’t go on record saying that. However, as I’ve stated, they were persons of interest in relation to an investigation pertaining to drugs. Sorry, one person, Mr. Escalante, was a person of interest in relation to an investigation pertaining to drugs, and we are suspecting that may be the motive in this incident.”

 

Investigators are zeroing in on a possible motive tonight, with early indications suggesting the shooting may be linked to drug activity, but so far, no arrests have been made. For the family of Roger Escalante back in Consejo Shores, the loss is devastating and still hard to grasp, as they struggle to come to terms with the sudden and violent end to his life.

 

Ernesto Uh, Grandfather of Deceased

“He was a really good young man. Very intelligent, very intelligent. Yes, he loved fishing. But that’s life. He was a DJ too. He played for a long time at the casinos in Free Zone. That’s really all I can say. We’re all deeply saddened by this. His father is my nephew. The family is in Corozal right now taking care of everything, you know, for the funeral and all of that, looking for plots at the cemetery.”

 

Loved ones describe Escalante as a well-known and energetic figure in the community who loves fishing and music. He leaves behind a three-year-old now fatherless. And amid rising concerns over violence involving young men, Corozal Mayor Rigo Vellos is making a direct appeal.

 

Rigo Vellos, Mayor of Corozal Town

“Young promising people that we have here in Corozal who, of course, one died and the next one I understand he was in a critical condition up to last night. And I want to share my condolences to the family who lost and the other one who is in critical condition I keep on praying for them, for the person and the family. It’s sad, it’s unfortunate. I do believe that we have reached to a point where we need to realize that it’s time for us to just put down all those weapons, man. It’s useless. Makes no sense, we keep hurting one another, and it’s not the time for that.”

 

As investigators search for answers, one family is left mourning, another man fights to recover, and an entire community is left hoping the violence comes to an end. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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