Father Fatally Shot, Youngest Son Injured in Apparent Hit in Libertad Village

Tonight, a father of four is dead and his youngest son is on the road to recovery after becoming the victim of an apparent hit on Saturday night. Around 9 o’clock, 36-year-old Kurtis Usher, his wife, and his 3-year-old son KJ came under an onslaught of gunfire from a lay waiting gunman. The family had just arrived at their home in Libertad Village and say the deadly attack unraveled within minutes. Reporter Vejea Alvarez headed north and has the story.

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: “On Saturday night a lone gunman armed with a high-powered rifle emerged from behind these bushes and targeted 36 year old Curtis Usher and his three-year old son. Usher, his wife and his son had recently arrived home and had just gotten out of their vehicle when the gunman came on the street and unleashed the barrage of bullets on the unsuspecting family.  

Usher returned fire from his licensed 9mm, as the bullets came flying, but the gunman’s onslaught continued, forcing Usher to seek refuge behind his home. Unfortunately, the father of four and his son had both been shot by the time police arrived, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero.

Hilberto Romero, Assistant Commissioner of Police: “Around 9:23 pm police responded to a shooting incident at Libertad Village in the Corozal district. Upon their arrival they found Curtis Usher 36 years with gunshot injuries. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Information is that Curtis Usher arrived at this house and was along with his common law when shots were heard coming from a bushy area and as a result he was shot.”  

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: While Usher succumbed to a gunshot wound to his abdomen, his son KJ is lucky to be alive. The toddler was grazed to the head and briefly hospitalized but is now on the road to recovery according to his aunt, Shanika Thompson.

Shanika Thompson, Sister-In-Law of Deceased: “He is good. He is recovering but there are nights when he wants to turn his head to sleep on the next side but he can’t do it because his head hurts him. But other than that he’s doing okay. But his head hurts him right, he has headaches and things but he’s doing okay.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: But why would someone unleash such a deadly attack on Usher and his young son? His family has no idea and says that Usher was not known to have enemies.

Shanika Thompson, Sister-In-Law of Deceased: “We have no idea. Like we said, Usher is not a problem person. You will never hear Usher getting into a fight with this person, Usher is getting into a fight with that person . Usher takes his drink and he’s a cool person. He’s just cool, calm. He’s not a person that when he drinks he gets into a fight with anybody or anything like that. He is calm, he’s cool. So that is the reason why it hurts us because like why ? Why did somebody just take his life like that ?” 

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: And, Usher’s callous murder has not only stumped his family but the police as well. ACP Romero explained that so far investigators have been able to gather very little. 

Hilberto Romero, Assistant Commissioner of Police: “Detectives are presently doing interviews and going through the evidence that was found at the scene but that is all the information we have at this time.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News:  Police aren’t looking into whether this was drug related ? 

Hiberto Romero, Assistant Commissioner of Police: “Yes we are looking at that yes.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: As investigators continue to search for answers, Thompson says the bereaved family will be searching for ways to cope with the loss of their loved who they say was a man dedicated to his children. 

Shanika Thompson, Sister-In-Law of Deceased:“He was a really nice person. Friendly, somebody that you know is always smiling, you know ? He’s not somebody that is angry all the time or anything like that he was a sweet person, always happy, always laughing. Once he is around everybody will have fun. He is all for his family. He loved his family so much. He was  really good dad. He was always there for his kids. Everything that he did was for his kids, he will always make sure that he works to provide for them. Make sure that they have, he will always make sure he gives his all to his kids so he was a really loving dad and we will miss him a lot.”

Vejea Alvarez, Love FM News: Police canvassed the scene and found twenty-one 7.62 expended shells. Usher’s licensed firearm was also found on him. Vejea Alvarez, Love News.