A Sunday morning murder has left five children without a father, and a family very angry, and vengeful.
Phillip Anthony Barrera, 35, a laborer of 180 East Canal, Pandy Alley, was ambushed and shot at multiple times as he stopped at a Chinese store to make a quick purchase before boarding his bus, on his way to Orange Walk to see his children, and his beloved grandchild, Allen Anthony Barrera, four months old.
“He was leaving to catch the bus; he left about ten minutes to eight. That was the last time I saw him,” said Barrera’s mother.
Alvina Barrera, 59, mother of six children, four boys and two girls — a very soft-spoken and saddened mother told us that her son did not have a bad or questionable character, and that his murder has literally left her, along with the other family members, at a loss for words.
“He was a good boy, very friendly and nice to people,” said the mother.
The shooting took place in front of Fit Fit Chinese Shop, situated at # 31 corner King Street and Amara Avenue, at about 8:45 a.m. Apparently, Barrera had stopped at the store for a quick purchase when a man on bicycle, armed with a gun, rode up to the store and opened fire from behind on the unsuspecting father.
The bullets caught Barrera, one on the right side of his cheek where, according to a police press release, it exited through the left lower part of his chin, while the other fatal bullet wound was seen to the left side of his rib cage.
Barrera fell to the ground on his back, and succumbed to the fatal injuries, but according to reports from eyewitnesses, he did not die immediately. He was gasping for breath, said a family member, but police, who were already there, did nothing but watch him die.
“I don’t know of anyone who had problems with him,” the mother said.
Barrera was employed as a laborer at a residence at the corner of George Street and Rocky Road, Downtown Belize City.
The family says that the shooter is neither a family friend nor a relative, and furthermore, that there is no justifiable reasoning behind such a senseless killing.
A family member, however, told Amandala, “We know who it is.” The family, we understand, has not divulged to police the name of the suspect, reportedly a 16-year-old who lives in the neighbourhood, who Barrera used to befriend.
They do not expect to get justice, because if he (the gunman) goes to court, there will be a lack of evidence, and he will walk, the family believes.
Because of their lack of faith in the police to bring the killer to justice, some family members expressed the wish, not for court “justice,” but for the death of the killer in the same way that their loved one died, so that his (the killer’s) mother can feel the same pain they are feeling now.
“A life for a life,” said the grieving mother.
The investigation by the scenes of crime personnel revealed four expended shells: (2) 9mm 22-RG86 and (2) 9mm Aguila brand shells.
Up to press time tonight, there has been no arrest, or detention so far in the case.
Phillip Anthony Barrera is a brother of Amandala’s Jason Barrera. Amandala extends sincere condolences to his family in their time of bereavement.