Sixty-six year old American national William “Doug” Campbell was arrested and charged with the crime of Murder and Possession of Unlicensed Firearm and Ammunition this Monday, February 20, by the San Pedro Police and will have to appear at the Supreme Court in Belize City to face the charge brought against his person. Campbell was released from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) last Saturday, where he had been recovering from a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest.
On February 2, 2006, San Pedro Police received information around noon indicating that William Campbell was suffering from some sort of injury at his house near the Tres Cocos area of North Ambergris Caye. “When we came we found the front door open and we went inside and saw Mr. Campbell suffering from what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the left side of his chest, whilst the other person was suffering from a gunshot wound to the left side of his temple,” Sergeant Dennis Myles of the San Pedro Police told the media. “We believe that the caretaker [Honduran Danilo Villatoro] and Mr. Campbell had some sort of issue and hence the reason why Mr. Campbell had shot the caretaker and in turn shot himself.”
According to the police, they found just one .38 revolver with two expended shells and three live rounds in it. Police say they found the .38 weapon right next to Mr. Campbell. Speculation by people who knew both men said that both Villatoro and Campbell had drinking and domestic problems and that both their wives had left them. Because of their problems, it was said that both men became despondent, and police believe that the shooting was a result of a murder/suicide attempt.
39-year-old Honduran Danilo Villatoro died from the effects of a fatal bullet wound to his head, which went in near his right ear. Police believe that both men were shot with the same gun, the .38 revolver, which was found lying next to Campbell. The gun was licensed to Campbell, but the license had expired last year, so it is being considered an unlicensed firearm.
Police also know that both men were considered the very best of friends, both had women problems, and both had been drinking heavily. Because both were shot with the same firearm, one theory is that it was a murder and then attempted suicide. Another theory is that both men made a pact to end their lives or commit suicide. Preliminary tests also showed that Campbell was shot from close range.
Danilo Villatoro left three young children behind. “Doug” Campbell, as he was better known in San Pedro, was serving as the Ambergris Caye Safety Committee’s Chairman as recently as the ending of last year. Campbell faced a preliminary hearing this Monday in court and will have to appear at the Supreme Court in Belize City to face the charge of murder.
Photo Caption:
Danilo Villatoro
