Gunmen Open Fire on Caesar Ridge Road, Two Men Injured in Onslaught

The wanton bloodlust over the holiday weekend culminated on Monday night with a violent attack on a pair of Belize City men who were seated in front of their home near the Wilton Cumberbatch Field.  After seven p.m., Mark Gentle and Calvin Cumberbatch were assailed by a pair of gunmen who fired multiple shots at them, reportedly with an assault rifle.  Fortunately for Cumberbatch, his injuries were not severe and he was treated and released from the K.H.M.H.  Gentle, on the other hand, remains in critical condition.  Though a motive for the brazen attack is yet to be determined, a police investigation remains ongoing.

Raphael Martinez, Police Press Officer

“On the twenty-fifth of May, police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they saw twenty-seven-year-old Mark Gentle and thirty-four-year-old Calvin Cumberbatch, both of a Caesar Ridge address here in Belize City suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.  Initial investigations revealed that both men were sitting on a step in front of their residence when a vehicle approached and two men reportedly fired several shots at them causing their injuries.  Again, they were treated at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where Cumberbatch was treated and released rather and Gentle remains at the Karl Heusner in critical condition.”

Raphael Martinez

Isani Cayetano

“The shooting involving Mark Gentle, this happened on Caesar Ridge Road in front of their residence.  Is there also any motive or reason as to how this incident came about?”

Raphael Martinez

“Again on that, police are following several leads, as we normally do.  Whenever there is any shooting incident, even if it was unintentional or intentional, police are normally looking at the highest level of charges which is looking at murder first and then of course they work their way down.  Worst case scenario.  They always follow several leads, bringing in several people to be interviewed.”