Popular Meat Pie Vendor Murdered While Working as Security Guard

In Belize City, there is yet another murder to report tonight as a popular meat pie vendor was killed whilst working the night shift as a security guard.  We join Reporter Jaleeza Roberts for that story.

Jaleeza Roberts, Love News: Less than 24 hours after the declaration of a state of emergency, a murder was reported in the Lake Independence are of the old capital. What was to be a regular school day turned tragic when the dead body of the school’s security guard was found inside the booth at Sadie Vernon High School. It is unclear who really stumbled upon the body as there are contradicting reports in this regard. What we do know tonight is that 28 year old Kadeem Babb is the latest victim of gun violence. At around seven o’clock this morning when teachers were unable to enter the compound concerns grew and the police at the Mahogany Substation were called in to help. Strangely the security both was locked and the officers had to use a hammer to access the area. This is when Babb was found slouched over in his desk in a pool of blood. Police Commissioner Chester Williams weighed in on the homicide saying that investigators are not leaning towards a gang related motive. 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Well from what we have been made to understand is that there may have been some issue between the security guard and another individual which is not gang related because I already see some comments stating that ‘oh we have SOE and this is happening.’ But the murder is not gang related. And the police have obtained surveillance footage from the school, we’re viewing that footage now and hopefully we’ll be able to identify who the individual is and should be able to make an arrest. I must say the last three murders we had we have made arrests in all three of them and it goes to show again that police is doing as best as we can to be able to investigate these murders and find the persons responsible and make sure that they face the court system So I have no doubt this one the same is going to be done. It is not a stone’s throw away from the police station as some media houses have reported. It is still quite a distance from the police station. And yes as I said before we do have police officers in the Martins are working but police officers have to move around they cannot stay in one given area and criminals will take advantage of whatever opportunity they have. And the fact that it is not something gang motivated you have an issue with somebody, you go after that person where the person works I don’t see how it is going to be possible for the police to be able to deter that from happening unless the police would have had prior knowledge that there was some issue between him and this individual and this person would have been going after him to do him something. “ 

Jaleeza Roberts, Love News: School principal Deborah Martin spoke with Love News saying that the murder of Babb is a shock to those on campus. In her character testimony on Babb, Martin explained that the Marigold Lane Resident was an easy going person who got along with everyone. At this point its s anyone’s guess as to why he was killed.” 

Deborah Martin, Principal, Sadie Vernon: “Well I know he’s outspoken so he would standup for anybody who comes his way or stand up for anybody that he thinks somebody is taking advantage of so I don’t know of any issue with anybody but I know he is somebody that is gonna stand up for himself and for others.”

Jaleeza Roberts, Love News: It’s a heartbreaking case that has left Babb’s family in shock. By several accounts Babb has been described as hardworking alternating jobs as a meat pie vendor and a security guard. For him it was about creating a quality life for his children. His father Leroy attested to this as he stood by still uncertain as to why his son was so callously murdered. 

Leroy Babb, Father: “Kadeem Babb he was my eldest son. As far as I’m concerned to be honest he was just always Kadeem. At this point I still can’t fathom the fact that it happened so it’s crazy. If you know me I think you know who Kadeem is, honestly. Everybody that sees me would know who Kadeem was. He used to sell meat pies for my mom before he started working at Sadie Vernon. But that’s what I remember about my son. He was a hard worker. I never thought that on his job site that something would happen. Who would want to go to a school ? That’s my thing you know ? School is for educators and children you understand what I’m saying ? I don’t see school being a bank, being anything of value more than just brains.” 

Jaleeza Roberts, Love News: Babb’s body was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital at 10:37am .