Did someone shoot him, or did he shoot himself?

Two children, ages 4 and 8, are now without their father, John Paul Henry Fernandez, 32, who died of a gunshot wound at about 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, outside the Palm Island nightclub, situated at about Mile 2 on the Philip Goldson Highway.

Initial reports by investigators were that the club had closed and Fernandez, a laborer of a Flamboyant Street address, and a security guard, Eduardo Torres, were socializing in the yard, when Fernandez suddenly grabbed a gun from the security guard, placed it behind his head, and pulled the trigger. The bullet reportedly went into his head and came out of his mouth, killing him almost immediately.

Fernandez’s family, however, strongly rejects this story, and said that Fernandez would never kill himself.

Police say that they were called to Palm Island at about 3:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, and when they went there, they saw Fernandez lying face up in a pool of blood inside the compound, with a gunshot wound to the right side of the head. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to a police press release dated today, Monday, May 6, 2013, “initial investigations revealed that Fernandez was seen socializing along with Eduardo Torres, 40, a Belizean security officer of 37273 Carnation Street, Belize City, when a single gunshot was heard, after which Fernandez was seen lying motionless on the ground. He was transported to the K.H.M.H., where he was pronounced dead. Police recovered (1) 9mm expended shell from the scene and have also recovered (1) 9mm Glock pistol, S/N-RKB195 with one magazine containing (15) 9mm live rounds from the residence of Eduardo Torres. Torres has since been detained pending investigations.”

Torres, however, was released today without charges at the direction of the Director of Public Prosecution, due to insufficient evidence, but police said they continue to investigate.

The family, however, is devastated and angry. Christopher, Fernandez’s elder brother, told Amandala that he was at work at the Princess, here in the city, on Saturday morning when he was informed that his brother was dead.

He said he knew that his brother suffers seizures when he drinks, and thought that he had suffered an attack and died, but he was more than surprised to hear that his brother died due to a gunshot to his head.

Christopher said that Fernandez was working and there was no need for him to kill himself, and he wants answers. He said that he will leave the matter to God, but he wants the man who was in Fernandez’s company to explain to them what happened, and why.

Christopher said that he raised his younger brother, John Paul Fernandez, and Torres. He said that John Paul would never go anywhere with anyone he did not know, and that his brother would never kill himself.

Christopher went on to say that Fernandez’s employer cried when he was told that he was dead. Around 2:00 a.m. that same Saturday morning, Christopher said, he brought his brother home, but did not leave him by the gate as he usually does, but left him a little distance away and watched him walk towards the gate, then he drove away.

However, John Paul Fernandez did not go through the gate because a man with whom he was acquainted met him and took him to Palm Island, said Christopher.

Those who know Fernandez said that he was not violent and was not disrespectful, but was always willing to help others.

John Paul Henry Fernandez is survived by his mother, two children, five brothers and a sister, Barbara.