Two more dead in gang turf wars
Gang related violence on the streets of Belize City is nothing new, but recent days have brought increased tensions and a corresponding level of bloodshed. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports on the two latest deaths, beginning with an execution style hit in front of a popular north side restaurant.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Sherman “Hatcher” Flowers had just exited Chon Saan Palace Restaurant on Kelly Street and was about to get into his Hilux pickup when he was fatally shot. When police arrived on the scene, they saw Flowers’ lifeless body lying in a pool of blood. He had been shot to the head.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“Reports are that a person in a blue vehicle that was parked across the street waited until this gentleman was about to get into his car, ran across the street and fired the fatal shot.”
Police have identified the car as a blue Nissan Stanza. Flowers was the proprietor of Detail Shop on Racecourse Street. Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid, says they are looking for one suspect but would not disclose the identity of the man, saying that at this time he is wanted only for questioning. However, sources close to the case tell News 5 that the police are looking for one Eric Savery whom they believe can assist them in the investigation. Authorities say at this time they cannot say why Flowers was killed, but that they are investigating to determine if the murder is connected to the shooting death of Darrel “Bagga” Jones that occurred on Saturday night.
G. Michael Reid
“Unfortunately, Jackie, many times when you hear of one these murders being committed it is usually followed up by other actions on the part of those who are in some way connected to people who are victims of these crimes. We are hoping that this is not the case, will not be the case, but certainly it is an area that the police are looking at.”
Despite recent efforts to break the cycle of violence, it seems that bloodshed has become the order of the day. As we were on the city’s southside following up on Flowers’ murder, we came upon a crowd that had gathered at the corner of King and Far West Streets. Another young man had just been shot. Twenty-seven year old Hugh “Angel” Thomas, who was a leader of the Bloods gang, received a shotgun blast to the stomach. Thomas died shortly after arriving at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Authorities believe Thomas’s murder is connected to the shooting death of Sherman “Hatcher” Flowers. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News Five.
Sources tell News 5 that all three victims were either members or associates of the Bloods gang and that their murders are the result of an ongoing struggle for dominance within the group.
