Belmopan on Edge After Brazen Truck Driver Killing, Crime Fears Grow

Tonight, fear and uncertainty are rising in Belmopan after the brazen shooting death of a delivery truck driver, an attack that has rattled the capital and prompted urgent calls for action. City leaders and residents are now asking tough questions about public safety, and whether Belmopan’s long held reputation as a peaceful city is beginning to unravel. Adding to that unease, authorities say the suspects believed to be responsible may also be linked to an armed robbery in nearby Armenia Village, raising alarm over a possible crime spree. News Five’s Paul Lopez is following developments and has more on what’s being done to bring those responsible to justice.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Belmopan residents are on edge following the fatal shooting of fifty-five-year-old Mark Gabourel, a delivery truck driver, gunned down in broad daylight. Authorities say that these two men on a motorcycle carried out the attack before fleeing the scene. Investigators believe these same suspects are linked to an armed robbery at a grocery store in Armenia Village just hours earlier.

 

Sanie Cal, Councilor, Belmopan

“In a broad daylight in a city, a calm city which I wished stayed the same. It struck me because it could have happened to my family and also to any other family. Somebody so innocent get his life taken away for no reason.”

 

Belmopan City Councilor Sanie Cal says greater unity within the business community could play a key role in bringing those responsible to justice. He echoed the views of Belmopan residents and attorney Arthur Saldivar, whom we interviewed on Thursday.

 

Arthur Saldivar, Belmopan Resident

“The citizen, the common man and woman on the street has to take it upon themselves to do what is necessary to be safe. So in this effort I am really asking the residents of Belmopan to become engaged, to become actively a part of the process that sees crime be curbed. We talk about police and citizen policing, but I don’t know that there has really been any concrete engagement of the community along these lines. I think now more than ever, citizens have to be engaged and for the police to do that, they have to make available the footage that has been collected from the various business and residents in this area where this incident took place, to have persons who may know, because someone know those persons on that bike.”

 

Following Gabourel’s murder and an armed robbery in Armenia Village, Councilor Cal turned to social media to rally support from Belmopan’s business community. He urged business owners to contribute funds toward a reward for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible.

 

Sanie Cal

“Two head better than one, together we can make something different. Together we can make a change. I believe with the community on board, business sector, everybody has a part to do to make the community better. As I mention in my post it is a reward. Someone needs to talk, someone has to talk, someone needs to get up and say something about. I know somebody knows something and together we can make that happen, together we can make someone talk.”

 

Since his Facebook post, Cal reports gaining the support of multiple business owners. But what can he say to those city residents who believe the city has lost its way as a once peaceful society? Cal says he met with Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado earlier this morning.

 

Sanie Cal

“I believe in my police department. I know Belmopan has surveillance cameras all around the city in different post. I spoke to the commissioner today and he mentioned to me that they are active. And thank God, good news, is that an arrest will be pronto and I hope that happens But even if it doesn’t happen right now the community can get together and get something done together, together everything is possible, everything is possible.”

As police continue their investigation, community leaders stress that restoring peace will take more than arrests, it will take collaboration between law enforcement, businesses, and residents. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.