A young Belize City man who had just celebrated a professional milestone lost his life to gun violence less than twenty-four hours later. Twenty-nine-year-old Eric Nelson was gunned down Saturday night in the Ghost Town area, cutting short what loved ones say was a promising future. As police determine what led to the fatal shooting, questions remain about who targeted Nelson and why.
Shane Williams
Shane Williams, Reporting
“Sometime around seven p.m. Saturday night, call center supervisor Eric Nelson was in this area here at the corner of Banak and Lakeview Streets when a gunman ambushed and fired shots killing him. As you can see, less than ten yards away is a police surveillance camera and just one hundred yards away is permanent police checkpoint. Here is what police have learned so far in their investigation.”
Stacy Smith
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“What we have learned so far is that Nelson was in the company of another person walking on Lakeview Street when a male person emerged from behind the fence and fired a single shot resulting in Mr. Nelson’s untimely demise. We have not been able to establish a motive at this time and we can confirm that Mr. Nelson is not known to police. However, we are pursuing the angle given the circumstances at hand, that this incident may be as a consequence of heighten tensions with the passing of Mr. McKenzie and there may have been some apprehension on the part of the shooter that Mr. Nelson was an enemy within their territory.”
Saturday should have been a celebration for Eric Nelson and his family; he’d just earned a hard‑fought promotion at work. Instead, that moment of pride has turned into heartbreak, with Protel Director Victoria Tun saying the tragic news has left a heavy cloud hanging over the entire workplace.
Victoria Tun
Victoria Tun, Director, Protel BPO
“When I got the news Saturday night it was devastating when I realized that it was one of our employees. And even finding out it was Eric, when I heard the news I was so devastated I started to cry because I know on Friday, especially Friday, we had just promoted him – remembering him coming down the step and telling everybody, ‘I’m not going to disappoint. I’m going to do my utmost best in this position. I noh wah fail unu.’ That was his words. ‘I noh wah fail unu. I wah du weh I have to do fu prove that I got this position.’ That is what I think the entire staff remember. On Friday, him being so joyful to get this position of being a new team leader to our team. Today would have been the day he started that position.”
While police continue their investigation, those who knew Nelson are remembering a man they describe as hardworking, respectful and focused on building a better future.
Victoria Tun
“When we go out and we are giving these jobs, it is a fullfillmet to see them, especially like Eric. Like getting another position, he hasn’t been with us I think roughly seven months and getting a team leader position is a real big deal. So it’s time like those on Friday we felt like we did something and then to find out that he lost his life to these types of circumstances is really devastating.”
As investigators search for answers, Nelson’s loved ones are left mourning a life cut short and wondering why someone who had just reached a major career milestone became the victim of deadly violence.
ASP Stacy Smith
“We know that Lakeview Street area is affiliated with the Majestic Alley and as I said there may have been some misapprehension or misguided view that Mr. Nelson who was not from that area and walking in that area was somebody who is a threat to those in that area.”
They are asking for videos from his final moments to be taken off social media and for privacy during their time of grief. Shane Williams for News Five.
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