Third Murder in 36 Hours Shakes Belize City, Family Denies Gang Involvement

James Dorian Escarpeta was the third murder victim in Belize within a period of 36 hours.  The 38-year-old was killed last night on West Street in Belize City just before seven o’clock.  Investigators responded to the scene and found Escarpeta on the pavement, in a pool of blood, with no signs of life.  The George Street resident was reportedly walking down West Street towards Water Lane when the shooter came from behind and fatally shot him.  In the aftermath of his killing his family is torn and wondering why anyone would want him killed. His mother, Marigold Escarpeta, stressed he was not involved in any gang.

Marigold Escarpeta, Mother of James Escarpeta: “He don’t fuss with anyone, he don’t give no trouble. But around here where we come, come live, everybody talk good about him. They always see him riding when you see he’s riding  it’s because he’s going to do errands for everybody. From yesterday I haven’t eaten. Just about two hours ago I ate one little pot spoon of rice and a piece of chicken because I don’t have that kind of appetite for what they did to me because they took my son away form me for no reason. I can say it’s for no reason. It’s just I guess that they are just retaliating and that is so wrong because my little boy up and down through West Street, George Street because he goes to Miss Desiree to go and do her errands. He goes and all on Hyde’s Lane, Barrack Road. When he went and paid my bill for me he rode all the way to BEL and came back home. So all I can say if were in any gang thing I don’t think he would have been all about and around. So I would really like the news media to take off that first thing that they put because he was in no gang.”

His brother, Eugene, who is a drummer with drums not guns, said that the incident especially hurt his family as he is now the last surviving son for his mother. He also feels that his brother’s life was taken needlessly.  James Escarpeta is no stranger in our news archives.  Back in November 2006, he was charged for the murder of Kevin Parks and the shooting of Charlie Moss, and in July 2019 he was charged for the armed robbery of Buca Service Station in Belmopan.  In July 2012, there was an attempt on taking Escarpeta’s life when he was shot on Baracat Street, Belize City.