SAN PEDRO. Mon. Oct. 18, 2021– Another man was arrested and charged today in connection with the murder of Jerry Espat, which took place in open waters near Cangrejo Caye on Saturday, October 2.
Today police formally charged Carlos Salazar, a 31-year-old fisherman from the San Mateo area of San Pedro, for the crimes of murder, attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and wounding in connection with the death of Jerry Espat.
On October 2, Jerry Espat and his three brothers were ambushed by men they reportedly knew and grew up with, while the siblings were diving for conch near Cangrejo Caye. He was shot and left for dead in the water while the men, who were in two boats, attempted to take the life of his brother, Kirian Espat, who survived what he described as a torrent of bullets as well as attempts to hit him in the head with shovels and to run over him with the boat.
The men on the two boats had also fired a barrage of bullets at the other two Espat brothers, who managed to escape and headed toward San Pedro. Jerry was left in the water and his body was not found until Sunday morning.
Three men were initially arrested and charged in connection with the incident — Gabriel Salazar Villafranco, and Sergio and Pedro Tun. The family members of the Tun brothers have since approached local media to protest their arrest and to indicate that video footage shows both men entering stores and a pharmacy respectively at the time of the incident.
Only Villafranco was charged for murder in that instance. There is no indication whether Carlos Salazar, who has now also been charged with murder, is a relative of Gabriel Salazar Villafranco.