Mini-man Shot on Vernon Street

Ralph Martinez

A spray of gunfire on Friday night has left forty-year-old Ralph Martinez, known in the streets of Belize City as Mini-man, hospitalized for multiple injuries received during the shooting incident.  Shortly before ten o’clock, police visited the K.H.M.H. where they observed Martinez in a stable condition.  Reports are that Mini-man, a resident of Mayflower Street, was walking along Vernon Street when upon reaching the intersection an unknown person opened fire from inside a white van.  Martinez was hit in the lower back and was rushed to the hospital.  Scenes of Crime personnel later recovered two Lugar brand expended shells from the area.  The shooting is believed to have been the result of an ongoing feud involving rival gangs as it is known that Mini-man is an associate of the Ghost Town Crips.  Mini-man has an extensive history of run-ins with the law, including a conviction in 2010 for possession of an illegal firearm and threatening his stepdaughter with a gun.  That arrest succeeded a shooting on Mayflower Street and a subsequent search of Martinez’s home which yielded a point twenty-two revolver.  During that incident resulted in injuries to Julian Castillo who claimed that he had been shot by Martinez.