A night out at a village event ended in tragedy for forty-one-year-old Deovan Hall. He was riding home through San Antonio Village when someone opened fire, leaving him mortally wounded along a dark stretch of road on the outskirts of the community. Residents reported hearing several gunshots, but by the time police arrived, Hall was already dead. His killing has shaken the quiet Corozal village, leaving loved ones grieving and searching for answers. Tonight, investigators are working to identify his attacker and uncover what led to the deadly ambush. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Forty-one-year-old Deovan Hall was riding home from a party, carrying a bowl of his favorite soup, black dinner, and expecting a quiet end to the night. Instead, someone opened fire along a dark stretch of road on the outskirts of the village. Police found Hall suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, with his bicycle and food lying nearby.
Hilberto Romero
ACP Hilberto Romero, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“Last night Corozal police went to San Antonio village where they reported that there was a shooting by a cane field. Police went to the area where they observed the lifeless body of a male person within multiple gunshot injuries. He was identified as Deovan Hall from Corozal. Information is that Hall was heading home on a bicycle after an event and he was approached by persons in the area who fired shots causing his fatal injuries.”
Hall’s common-law wife, Sharlean Robateau, and their two young children spent the evening waiting for him to return home. But as the minutes passed, they eventually fell asleep, unaware that Hall had already been gunned down. Robateau says she later learned that the gunshots she heard about an hour earlier were the same shots that claimed her husband’s life.
On the Phone: Sharlean Robateau, Common-law Wife of Deceased
“We have a whistle that we blow at each other that we know when he blow, I know that he di call me and I do the same. So when he pass my sister house, he whistle. And when he whistle I come outside and I ask him, where you going? He say, I just gwen da back ya so fi some lee food. So black dinner when he like, ’cause hi mi love black dinner. I tell ah no take long because the baby done di sleep already.” Because he that the one we care who on the baby every night when he go sleep.”
Robateau had just reached home when she heard about five gunshots, sending fear through the house. Hours later, Hall’s father arrived looking for him. When the family realized he had never returned, those gunshots took on a chilling new meaning.
On the Phone: Sharlean Robateau
“I walk out to them house and he was still looking, and he tell me that he, if bike deh throw weh down pon the floor and the slippers and the food. And I did walk and I said, this done no Maho. Maho no just wanna left the bike like this. I say something happened. And when his dad look inna the plantain patch, he saw a blood on the coconut tree. And he look further. He went a lit-little bit further, and he saw a white thing with blood and he thought it was a cocos bag. And when he flash, he say, Oh, God da mi son. And he run out to ask for help.”
Hall leaves behind four children and a family struggling to make sense of his death. Robateau says she cannot understand why anyone would want to kill him, describing him as a peaceful man who did not have problems with anyone. Currently, police have no motive for the brutal attack.
ACP Hilberto Romero
“We cannot confirm at this time. He has been arrested before for minor offenses.”
Hall and Robateau shared two sons, ages eight and six, and she remembers him as a devoted father who spent most of his time with them. He often included his children in his fishing and hunting activities.
On the Phone: Sharlean Robateau
“Stick on to him like ticks. So I don’t know why they do this for, and the person what do it, it had to be somebody way close to Deovan because he no care anybody that we house. Anybody no know back deh and I da want justice for him because I no think it fair to make them just take away a innocent life and leave two innocent kids fatherless.”
As they mourn, Hall’s loved ones are calling on investigators to leave no stone unturned in the search for justice.
On the Phone: Sharlean Robateau
“I would like him to remember as a loving person, caring person. No care what happening in the village, he always willing to give a helping hand. And he’ll forever be in our hearts.”
Police are seeking two suspects in this investigation. Britney Gordon for News Five.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
Watch the full newscast here:
