Police respond to surge in violence

A shooting on Sunday night has left a Belize City man hospitalised with a bullet wound to the leg. Thirty-three year old Carl Bradley told police that around ten, two guys on bikes rode up to where he was standing on West Canal and one fired several shots at him with a handgun. No arrests have yet been made. On Thursday, Bradley’s brother Sydney was shot to death on the same street. That crime and a number of others prompted the Police Department to hold a press conference at the Raccoon Street station this morning. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods was there.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Belize City police need your help in trying to capture this young man, identified as Michael Faux. Faux, who is believed to be armed and dangerous, is wanted for the murder of twenty-one year old Sydney Bradley, who was shot several times last Thursday night near his home at number 163 West Canal.

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams, Head of Bz. City C.I.B.
?I must say at this point in time we have sufficient evidence and we have also obtained a warrant in the first instance for the arrest of one person by the name of Michael Faux who will be charged upon apprehension for the murder of Sydney Bradley.?

?At this point in time we believe that the motive is as a result of previous misunderstandings that they might have had.?

A previous misunderstanding is also believed to be the motive for the murder of twenty-five year old David Vasquez who was killed upstairs of the Olympic Restaurant around one-thirty on Friday afternoon after being chased inside the establishment on Orange Street.

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams
?The quick response from the police in terms of the investigation has again gave us evidence to suggest that we are looking for someone who at this point in time I could only say could assist us in our investigation. And this person is one Edward Barahona.?

Head of the Criminal Investigation Branch in Belize City, Chester Williams, says he does not believe the recent killings and shootings are the result of gang related activities.

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams
An ? Gang activity in Belize, as I am sure that you all are aware of, is not the way it used to be. The gangs have been diminished. We have few handful of people who are trying to create problems and they are being dealt with.?

Police say they are doing everything they can to help curb the violence, but it will take a committed effort from the community to effectively address the problem. Williams spoke about the department?s ongoing anti-firearm operations.

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams
?I believe that we are doing our best in trying to control the occurrence of firearm related offences on the streets of Belize City. Nonetheless, it is not only a police effort, but it must also be a community effort. We need the public?s support in order to achieve what we want to achieve at the end of the day. However, I can assure the public that every gun related cases or it doesn?t even have to be gun related, any crimes that may occur on our streets are investigated fully by our office and anyone found responsible will be taken to court whether or not the other party requests court action.?

This year, Belize City has been the venue for seventeen murders. Police say they have made arrests in twelve of those cases. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.

Police say they have strong evidence that leads them to believe that the same person who killed David Vasquez also shot Alvin Cumberbatch last Thursday.