BELIZE CITY, Mon. Nov. 26, 2018– The Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is usually a joyous time for families and friends, but for one Belizean family, this year’s holiday was marred by a tragic loss, as a result of the murder of their 21-year-old relative, who lost his life at the hands of his 17-year-old girlfriend, who, allegedly stabbed him to death.
News reports out of an area known as Baldwin Hills, located in South Los Angeles, have indicated that the incident occurred sometime shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, Thursday, November 22. Neighbors told a reporter from the local television station, KTLA 5 News, that they heard two people arguing in an alleyway behind an apartment complex of the 4000 block of Nicolet Avenue.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer, D. Orris, said that when police arrived on the scene they found Rackeim Francis with a stab wound to the chest.
Francis reportedly died after being treated at a local hospital, Orris said.
According to news reports, the 17-year-old girl, who has been in the foster care system, lived with her grandmother in an apartment where Francis was said to have been living, as well.
After the stabbing, police could not immediately locate the girl, but by Friday night LAPD confirmed that she was in their custody.
Police said that they have not yet identified a motive for the stabbing. One family member, however, told our newspaper that the girl got into an argument with Francis because he wanted to go to visit his relatives to have Thanksgiving dinner.
Neighbor Tanja Reece told KTLA the victim lived in the apartment building where the stabbing occurred. “I don’t know what happened, but it’s really sad on Thanksgiving,” she said. “I just heard scuffling, and it woke us up. And I heard screaming. And that was it,” she said.
Francis left Belize about 7 years ago, after completing first form at Anglican Cathedral College, which he attended after completing his primary school education at Bernice Yorke School, in Belize City.
Francis is the only son of Sharon Waight. His father is Colin Francis.