Police shoot suspect in leg
The often rocky relationship between police and the public has once more been put to the test. This morning in Belize City a police officer pursuing a suspect shot him in the leg after the accused felon had allegedly threatened him. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods filed this report from the scene.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Residents who witnessed the shooting say eighteen-year-old Jeremy “Tambran” Hendricks was standing at this location when a policeman shot him in the leg.
Sebastian Nunez, Witness
“The police they come and surround him. One B.D.F. with a machine gun and another B.D.F. with a machine gun and the police they come from the back and see the men and just come and bow, shot the man in his leg.”
The drama unfolded around 8:30 this morning in Generous Alley off Victoria Street. Hendricks had just done a favour for his friend Sebastian Nunez, and was making his way back to the neighbourhood when he allegedly got into an argument with another man. At that same time, the police were in the area and the man made a complaint to them.
Sebastian Nunez
“This man the cuss ah up fi nothing. the police tell the bway to wait.”
Jacqueline Woods
“The police told Jeremy to wait?”
Sebastian Nunez
“Jeremy said he no want wait, he no have time and he walked away. He no do nothing wrong, he walked away.”
It is reported that Hendricks had a stick of weed on him and obviously did not want to be searched by the police. An eyewitness who did not wish to appear on camera, says as Hendricks walked up the alley, the authorities followed…and then fired a warning shot.
Voice of Eyewitness
“I mean the man no want disrespect the police, so ih dash the weed and ih begin to walk away from the police. The police hollah at the man and when the man start to pick up speed, the police bust a first shot out deh pan the street, weh all pickny and everything di stand up out deh…bam.”
Hendricks quickly jumped this fence, but cut his hand in the process. As he stood behind a wooden house, the police caught up with him. The eyewitness claims that Hendricks surrendered, but was intentionally shot.
Voice of Eyewitness
“The police and the two B.D.F. come right dah back yah and the police, this dah the words from the police, “I di shot yuh because yuh run from mi.” The ih shot Jeremy inna ih foot.”
Neighbours took Hendricks to the hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his upper right thigh. At the hospital, Hendricks says the police told him that he was wanted for a previous incident.
Jeremy “Tambran” Hendricks, Shooting Victim
“The man seh, “Bway, you dah di man, you dah di man.” How he wah seh he dah the man and he no gat no picture or nothing, lone name and he wah look pan and seh, “bway you dah di man, and he wah ker me out so.” They di look fi call in a Trooper fi ker me right. When I look, I see di man di call in fi wah Trooper fi ker me in fi something weh I no do.” I no do nothing my bway, I no do nothing.”
Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid says the shooting incident is under investigation and he hopes the working relationship the police are trying to establish with the community will not be affected.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“Well certainly it makes it more difficult, but we believe that there are many people out there who are intelligent enough to understand that this incident do not reflect an entire department. The Police Department is necessary to maintain law and order. So we hope that people will understand that there will be incidents where the police… I’m not saying in this case that is so, we have to find out first all of facts of the matter.”
Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
A police press release claims that Hendricks was positively identified as the man who a day earlier had stolen a cell phone at knifepoint from a security guard at Holy Redeemer School. Following his discharge from the K.H.M.H., Hendricks was detained by police pending charges of robbery and harm.
