One Man Dead and Two Hospitalized in Belmopan Shooting
One Belmopan resident is dead, while two others are hospitalized and fighting for their lives only days before the end of the year. Just before eight p.m. on Thursday, a lone gunman targeted Michael Williams at his residence in the Maya Mopan area. That same shooter then opened fire on two other men who were in the immediate vicinity. At this time, police suspect that Williams’ murder was drug-related. Authorities also believe that the two additional victims were innocent bystanders who may have been targeted because they were in the area where Williams’ murder occurred. An investigation is currently ongoing to determine exactly what happened and why. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
There was a murder on Tul Street in the Maya Mopan Area of Belmopan on Thursday night. Michael “Itza” Williams had just arrived home on his bicycle when a gunman approached him an unleashed a hail of bullets in his direction. Police responded following reports of gunshots being heard in the area.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Yesterday, evening around seven thirty thereabout, police in Belmopan responded to shots being fired in the Maya Mopan Area. Based on that, they responded, upon arrival they were notified that he victim had transported to the Western Regional Hospital for treatment.”
But, Michael Williams was not the only person the gunman targeted. While leaving the Williams’ home, the shooter aimed at the home of thirty-eight year old Giovanni Melhado located just a block away. At the time, Melhado and twenty-four year old Selvin Teck were outside discussing a job opportunity.
Chester Williams
“While he was fleeing, he encountered these two individuals and fired at two of them. They received varying degrees of injuries and were taken to the Belmopan hospital for treatment. At this time, one of those persons is at the Belmopan hospital and the other one was transported to K.H.M.H.”
Esther Teck and her husband were on their way home from their business when they came across their son and his friend Melhado being transported to the hospital inside a van.
Esther Teck
Esther Teck, Mother of Selvin Teck
“I was coming out from my business going home when we saw a van right there. It was at the road side so I tell my husband dah suh we paak, like teasing. When my husband notice it was Giovanni. So, I check and then my son say lucky unu come. When he see me he tell me mom. So we gawn check and we see two of them shot up inside the van.”
Esther Teck confirmed that the gunman shot her son and his friend, after targeting Williams. The family is of the view that the gunman suspected Selvin and Nelson witnessed Williams’ murder and turned on them.
Esther Teck
“He suspects that they were seeing him and that is why he shoots them, because he thought that they saw him just kill the next guy. Because, they only gone check with Giovanni’s land fih mek my son chop it. He got the shot right here and one shot to his throat. And Giovanni get the shot by his ears and they said the bullet didn’t come out so it stay inside. And, he get shot on his leg and his leg get blown in pieces. So, they said my son my might lose an eye.”
We were unable to locate any of Williams’ family members. He lived alone in a relatively isolated area. Police in Belmopan are working to ascertain a motive for his murder. At this time, they believe it was drug related.
Chester Williams
“Police in Belmopan are working diligently to put the pieces together. We believe that the shooting of Michael Williams may have been drug related and so we are looking at several persons who are possible suspects and we will see where that takes us from there.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
