Teenager Murdered at Boxing Day Horse Race
In Burrell Boom in the Belize District, a teenager was stabbed multiple times as many persons watched. Eighteen year old Lennox Pierez Flowers, a Belize City resident, travelled to the village with friends for the annual horse races and never made it back alive to the City. There he was attacked at the track by three men, two who have been detained while the other remains at large. Police believe the motive for his murder is two-fold. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
An afternoon at the racecourse ended in bloodshed on Boxing Day when an eighteen-year-old Belize City resident was fatally stabbed while socializing at an event. Lennox Pierez Flowers left for Castleton’s in Burrell Boom Village on Saturday afternoon to attend a horserace with his employer and several of their friends. The men were said to have been enjoying themselves at the track when an ex-girlfriend reportedly approached Flowers and tossed a drink in his face. Jennifer Thomas describes what transpired immediately after the deadly stabbing.
Jennifer Thomas, Mother of Deceased
“A couple minutes after, a young lady came, the same young lady Bonnie. She came and she got in the truck, she climbed in the truck and she was crying. She said, “Pierez, the same shirt I bought for you for Christmas is bloody.” The guy turned around and looked at her and said, “You were the one that caused this because you threw the liquor in Pierez’s face.”
That incident, it is strongly believed, may have precipitated what took place several minutes later. Pierez was accosted by a trio of men who went to work on him with an edged instrument.
Jennifer Thomas
“Apparently, after this happened she met Pierez and she told Pierez, “I will have my boys finish you. I will have them kill you.” But my son didn’t take it as nothing, you know, because everybody was leaving and he didn’t leave the place. He has no fear, he does nobody nothing, so he has nowhere to go.”
Isani Cayetano
“How certain are you guys that this young lady is involved in this incident? I know it’s an allegation that you’re making but how certain are you guys that this individual has anything to do with this stabbing?”
Jennifer Thomas
“Because she said she was going to get them to do it and people witnessed it, because we have statements from people that were there.”
According to Ladyville Police, they were summoned to the area shortly after nine o’clock that night. What they saw when they got there was a mortally injured teenager suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster, Commander, Rural Eastern Division
“About 9:10 p.m., our officers were alerted to a confrontation at the Charleston Park in Burrell Boom. This was an event that took place after the Burrell Boom horserace where they discovered a male person on the ground bleeding profusely. Ambulances were called for him but apparently they were occupied so he was then rushed to the K.H.M.H. where he was pronounced dead on arrival. That person is Lennox Pierez Flowers, eighteen-years-old of a Partridge Street Extension. We have in our custody two individuals that we believe are responsible for the death of Mr. Flowers and we’re looking for a third individual who will be charged for murder in this case.”
The motive, says Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster, includes enmity between two groups, as well as the previously described incident involving a young lady.
“The information that we are initially receiving is the fact that these individuals are from rival groups, as well as an incident over a female.”
Jennifer Thomas
“This doesn’t have any gang involvement because my son is not a gang member. He is not a gang member. Pierez doesn’t affiliate with no gang. Pierez doesn’t have any young friends. All Pierez’s friends are decent hardworking people that have their own business, those are Pierez’s friends. Pierez doesn’t affiliate with nobody with no gang nothing.”
It is expected that charges will be brought against the trio involved in the weekend homicide. As for the young woman, it is unclear if she will be arraigned for her reported involvement in the incident. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.