Devin Neal
There are two murders to report tonight…one in the north and one in the west. On Monday evening, Roaring Creek resident, Devin Neal, was ambushed as he travelled on his motorcycle to his house in Valley of Peace, Cayo. A woman, whom he had given a ride to earlier and was riding ahead on a separate motorcycle, was also caught in the gunfire but survived the shooting. Neal’s family is shocked at his murder and is looking for answers. Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Ambushed and shot in cold blood, twenty-one-year-old Devin Neal was callously dispatched by a lone gunman who fired multiple rounds to put down his target with utmost finality. The bullet-riddled sign not far from where the fatal attack took place on Monday evening is unrelated, yet somehow stands as an eerie reminder that death was right around the corner.
Voice of: Resident
“At the time of the shooting we heard about two shots first. Afterwards we heard a shout and afterwards we heard about ten more shots.”
Neal was traveling along this lonely stretch en route to Valley of Peace where he lived sometime around five o’clock. On a separate motorcycle a short distance away was thirty-year-old Soila Portillo. She narrowly escaped the deadly spray; a single shot hitting her in the neck. Neal wasn’t as fortunate. The fusillade was apparently reserved for him.
Isani Cayetano
“While the police are doing their own investigation into this incident, do you believe that it may have been an isolated attack on your brother or maybe it’s related to other incidents in the Roaring Creek area?”
Voice of: Alexia Neal, Sister of Deceased
“Very good question. I am not sure of all the facts but you there will be word of mouth and there will be chatting from residents and villagers and so forth but I can’t say what exactly is happening because a lot has been taking place in our village lately. So I can’t say what is the motive. I can’t.”
Notwithstanding an unclear motive, the masked hit man wanted Neal dead. He went to great length waylaying his quarry near the northern approach of the Agripino Cawich Bridge.
Voice of: Alexia Neal
“There was another female, I guess they had spoken earlier and from what I understand the young lady said that he gave her a lift to the twenty-four hour gas station which is Westar and she then got on her own bicycle, motorcycle sorry, and they then proceeded but he told her that they needed to buy something at Westar. So, I guess she went ahead and when she went ahead I think the first shot caught her and he may have then realized what was happening and I think he tried to turn away from all the gunshots but unfortunately he did not make it.”
The area would be teeming with police activity in the aftermath of the murder.
Voice of: Resident
“Afterwards the police car came and ker di body to the hospital and afterwards we noticed that there were a lot of cars, a lot of vehicles by the bridge and taking pictures pan di thing and everything. I noh know for what and that’s everything we heard.”
But who would kill Devin and why? It’s a question his family is still trying to come to grips with.
Voice of: Alexia Neal
“All I know is that his killer is probably still out there and all I want is justice for my brother because he was a very fun and loving person, very family oriented and he never troubled anyone. He wasn’t a troublesome person, you know, always have this laughter and whenever you are in his presence you can feel it, you know, so I don’t understand why someone would want to take his life.”
Portillo remains admitted at the Western Regional Hospital in a stable condition. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
View the full article