Did City shooting involve Honduran gangs?
In crime news, there was a shooting late Saturday night in Belize City, and while that occurrence can hardly be described as unusual, there are indications that a new element may be creeping into the mix of urban street violence. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has more.
G. Micheal Reid, Police Press Officer
“We do have a number of people detained and investigations are underway and a lot of questionings are going on, but as you know Jackie, in many of these instances people don?t want to speak.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Twenty-nine year old Jose Bartolo Velasquez, a Honduran national, was shot three times in the neck shoulder and chest as he walked on this sidewalk on Barrack Road around one fifteen on Sunday morning. It is reported that Velaquez, a bus driver from Ladyville Village, was with some friends, when they were approached by a lone gunman described only as a Hispanic man.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Medical Chief of Staff, KHMH
“Unfortunately we again received another victim of gunshot injuries, a gentleman, to the chin and neck. He underwent a four hour surgery. He also had some very serious injuries to some blood vessels in the neck. He is in intensive care unit and will probably be there for the next two days. Again his prognosis is uncertain at this time. But we will put up a big fight.”
Jacqueline Woods
“We spoke with the father and he said he is scared to come on camera to tell us what happened to his son because it involves gangs from Honduras. Do you know if this shooting involves gangs from Honduras?”
G. Michael Reid
“The investigation is underway. I certainly cannot discuss any details as such. We are looking at this as a shooting incident; as an individual being shot. We know that there are gangs in these areas but as far as we know the activities have been limited here in Belize.”
Jacqueline Woods reporting for News Five.
The Velasquez family did tell News 5 that their son had received death threats from members of a Honduran gang, but they do not know if Velasquez is associated with any rival group from Honduras or why anyone would want him dead.
