Family Contests Heroic Narrative: Sister Claims Belmopan Shooting Victim Was Innocent

Ten days ago we told of the story where one woman in Belmopan shot a suspected robber.  The mother was hailed a hero for defending herself and her daughter.  Tonight, however, the sister of the so-called robber has come to the media to say that her brother, Ronald Gibson was no thief and that he was shot senselessly.  Shawn Gardiner, Gibson’s sister says she has seen the news and has found several holes in the story.

Shawn Gardiner, Sister of Gibson: “Yes I saw the news with Ms.Abadi and she’s claiming that she didn’t have a bullet in her gun so my question is how comes my brother got shot if she didn’t have a bullet in a gun and from what my brother told me he was walking on the side of the walkway and it was dark and he didn’t see who shot him he just felt it and he wasn’t robbing anybody because he was a distance away from Ms.Abadi. So Ms.Abadi or whatever is her name she has to get her facts right. And you have to hear about two sides of a story you know ? So I need justice for my brother because this won’t leave like this. I will sue her if I have to or whoever did it because I met someone in Belmopan personally and he told me that it wasn’t that lady that shot my brother so my question is who shot my brother ? And maybe that lady just saw him swerving and coming and she got jumpy and just shot for no reason then said that my brother was gonna rob her. My brother is not known for robbery and I’m not taking up for him because he’s my brother but I have to go by what he’s saying because there are two sides to a story. He was just walking and felt a shot and dropped and he got up and ran and a police officer brought him to the hospital. Then they’re telling my lawyer that they didn’t bring him to the hospital, an officer brought my brother to the hospital.”

Gardiner says she will push to sue the shooter, 47-year-old, Gilda Abadi.

Shawn Gardiner, Sister of Gibson:  “No weapon was found so I don’t know how could that every be robbery you know ? And I’ll sue however is behind this because we all know the system is corrupted and I don’t even care, I’ll speak my mind. Well the family’s next step in this process we’re gonna see what my brother if he comes out alive today after this second surgery we’re gonna see what we’re gonna do next and like I told you we’re gonna sue them if we have to.”

Reporter: Are you guys planning on pressing charges against Ms.Abadi ?

Shawn Gardiner, Sister of Gibson:  “Of course I’m gonna press charges on her because she’s doing the same with my brother. Everyday she has police guarding him as if he is gonna run away. My brother can’t even walk good much less to run away.”

Reporter: Does the family need any medical assistance ? Financial assistance or anything like that ? 

Shawn Gardiner, Sister of Gibson: “Well he needs but I won’t even accept any money from that lady. Like I told you if she’s in the wong she’s gonna pay for whatever she did because it won’t be left like this. They’re claiming he had a past but a past history or robbery you know how the police work they alway say what they want and far as I know I’m not taking up for him. Yes he had a robbery that he did in Belize already but he didn’t get convicted for it.”

Reporter: If Ms.Abadi is watching this what would you like to say to her ? 

Shawn Gardiner, Sister of Gibson: “I have nothing to say to her. I already said to you guys on the news what I will do, me and my family. We’re gonna sue her if we have to.”

Gibson is under police guard, and once discharged from the hospital, he will be criminally charged and taken to court.