Murder for Hire?

Popular Businessman’s Brutal Murder Shocks the Nation

As we go to press tonight, Belizeans across the country are in shock after the brutal murder of a well known 38 year old businessman, Jason Coombs. At around 5:00pm yesterday, in broad daylight, a tinted vehicle entered the compound of Pre-Con at the corner of Ceasar Ridge Road and Central American Boulevard. According to eyewitnesses, whoever was in that vehicle drove right up to the owner of the company, exchanged a few words with him, and then shot him dead. The vehicle then left the compound in no great hurry, according to reports. They left 38 year old businessman Jason Coombs sprawled lifeless on the ground. This was as cold-blooded a hit as our country has experienced in recent times. The Police have ruled out robbery, and are investigating the murder as a contract killing.

Crime and violence have been on everybody’s mind and in everybody’s conversations in recent months. Never before has Belize been hit with such an unrelenting barrage of murders, assaults, robberies, home invasions and vicious crime. The latest murder of the popular businessman has taken the conversation to another level. Today the online social club Facebook was lit up with comments of sadness, frustration, anger, anguish and condolences from Belizeans both at home and abroad who had heard the news. There were calls for the return of the death penalty, calls on the Police Department and the Government to do something before Belize is taken over completely by criminals. There were vows from friends of Coombs to find out who had killed him, there were words of comfort to the family he left behind. Behind it all, there was a sense of frustration at the violence which has left Belizeans afraid to come out of their homes.

One Facebook blogger posted – ‘The shock is reverberating far and wide, and I hope that Belizeans have not become so desensitized to the constant barrage of violence as to become completely paralyzed by what is happening in such a small and interconnected society. None of us are immune and we must become our brother’s keepers.’

The Leader of the PUP posted – ‘We in the People’s United Party are saddened by the untimely death of Jason Coombs, a father, son, lover and hard working businessman. His contribution to Belize was greatly appreciated. We join with friends and family to mourn his passing. As a community we must all come together to deal with the crime and violence in our society. We can and must do better if we are to honour Jason’s contribution.’

And while the murder of this young businessman was shocking, the violence has continued unchecked. Last night, gunmen also robbed a restaurant on Mahogany Street. This afternoon, an armed gunman jacked Beltaco on Hyde’s Lane, and this evening, the Marketing Board was robbed. Belize’s streets have become a nightmare for our business owners. Under this incompetent UDP administration, it is no longer wise to even attempt to open any sort of business, or to make an investment in any business. In the nearby community of Burrell Boom, a business establishment is closing down, after owner was beaten nearly to death in a jacking and his home was invaded – two separate incidents which demonstrate that owning a business in Belize under this administration and in this current era of unchecked violence is a life threatening proposition.

The Belize Times joins the rest of the nation in expressing our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones left behind by the untimely death of Jason Coombs. It is our wish that justice will be dealt out swiftly and harshly to those responsible for this tragedy.

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