Emmerson Anderson is Shot and Killed in the Old Capital

Emmerson Anderson

Police are looking for one person in connection with the murder of forty-four-year-old Emmerson Anderson, who was shot and killed on Wednesday night in Belize City. The Belize City resident was shot to the abdomen and rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital around eight p.m.; minutes later he succumbed while receiving treatment. Now, Anderson is not known to the law, but it is suspected that two of the persons he was playing a game of dice with were the intended target. News Five’s Duane went looking for answers and files this report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Just before eight o’clock on Wednesday night, shots rang out at the corner of Sibun and Ebony Streets. A barrage of bullets was discharged at an unsuspecting group of men by a lone gunman who stood from a distance. As the gunman escaped, forty-four-year-old Emmerson Anderson, laid wounded on the basketball court.

Voice of: Aunt of Murder Victim

“I mi ina my house di sleep and I hear the gunshot and I neva get up. After everything done, I come out and when I come out, I see dehn di try pick him up; he deh pan the ground there. And the police man dehn come and not even help di bwai. Dah mi next grandson and wah next bwai pick ahn up and put ahn ina di police pickup and gone with ahn.”

Residents say the echoes of up to ten shots reverberated in the distance; one bullet made its mark on Anderson, who succumbed to his injury while receiving treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Luckily, the three other persons who were with him at the time escaped unhurt. One of those persons is a panades vendor, who recounted what happened as the group played dice on the court at the long barracks.

Money

Money, Resident

“We were associating; me and my friend and I had my back turn just like this towards my house there. And then I heard gunshots and people screaming and I got down on the ground and all I could do was just get on the ground; that was the first  thing that came to mind when gunshots and it keeps coming bang bang bang.  I had to jump on the ground. My friend was on the other side of the board, I’m on this side; he on this side, next one on the next side.”

Duane Moody

“Are you guys normally out there playing game?”

Money

“Most of the time we are right there so they must have set that up or something cause most of the time we are right there.”

Police responded to the scene shortly after and recovered several shells.

Alejandro Cowo

ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City

“Mister Anderson was along with other male persons at the basketball court located on the long barracks at the corner of Sibun Street and Ebony Street when a male person from a distance approached them and fired several shots at their direction causing the abovementioned injuries. So far we are trying to establish what can be the motive. We know that Mister Anderson is not involved in any gang and does not have a history that we can speak about.”

Reporter

“Do you think then that he was the target or probably somebody else in that group?”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“We believe that the target was somebody else who was along with him.”

By all accounts, Anderson was not the intended target, but rather two persons associated with a neighborhood gang. According to his aunt, he was not involved with any gang and lived his life carefree.

Voice of: Aunt of Murder Victim

“No he noh bad. With he, he too quiet. He no trouble puss or dog; yo no even hear he cuss bad word.”

Reporter

“So you don’t believe that your nephew was the target?”

Voice of: Aunt of Murder Victim

“No I don’t think so. I don’t think he was the target.”

Police are looking for one person in connection with this latest homicide. Duane Moody for News Five.