Police officer shot while responding to robbery of shop
The National Basketball Team did not do as well as expected in Santo Domingo today where the Centro Basket games are taking place. The team squared off with it arch rivals from Mexico and we will have a full report of how that game went later in the newscast. But here on the home turf, a police officer, who is the body guard for the Minister of Defense was shot early this morning while responding to a robbery in downtown Belize City. At five-forty-five a.m., the proprietors of Yun Kee Shop, located on Water Lane, were about to open for business when the incident occurred. Businesswoman Jihua Zhu had just opened the shutters when four armed masked men went inside and pulled down the shutter with her family inside. One of the assailants grabbed the other shop keeper, Guan Zhu, choked and then hit him twice on his head with the butt of a handgun. Jihua screamed while watching the attacker assault Guan. The gunmen proceeded to rob the couple of cash and phone cards. But two officers who reside in the building heard the cry for help and responded very quickly. Police Corporal Ezrick Flowers, was shot to his right hand and right rib cage while his colleague Norman Bol, who also lives in the building, ran down with his firearm and shot back, causing the gunmen to flee the scene. Flowers was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he is in a stable condition and is being held overnight for observation. We are told that Flowers did not get the permission of his superiors to speak to the media. However, one of the shop keepers who speaks very little English relayed how the incident unfolded.
Ken, shopkeeper
“I just 4 people go in my shop they hold a gun.”
Jose Sanchez
They shot someone? They shoot the policeman?
Ken
“Yeah, the policeman upstairs, go down. I just sacred because I sleeping.”
Jose Sanchez
How did he get hurt someone hit him?
Ken
“He used the gun handle. Same like use hammer, bruk.”
Jose Sanchez
Did they get anything from the shop? Money?
Ken
“Money and phone card, only that.”
Police Corporal Ezrick Flowers is the body guard attached to Caribbean Shores Area Representative and Minister of Defense, Carlos Perdomo. Perdomo is out of the country; however, his daughter Sylvia has been at the side of Flowers throughout the day along with family members.
Set up random check-points and search for weapons!!Belize is ina state of emergen!!cy
should stop chancy chiney!!!!!
Put those criminal in jail. not free them. let them pay for what they have done to innocent people. No lawyers should help them out regardless of their rights. Get serious bfore d police department suffer more and innocent people. Hey we don’t want a civill war mein. B serious implemnt laws to its fullest
THANK YOU GUN CONTROL..
Give thanks to gun control..now the criminals go commit robberies with a gun each all our of them were armed while our police have to defend themselves empty handed or with outdated weapons.
And our citizens are expected to just give into the criminals demands…
THANK YOU GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES You have done a great job and disarming law abiding Belizeans while the criminals still have guns by the truckload.
I know that they, THE POLICE, have a “profile” of the regular street criminals by now, i.e. how they dress, what type of bikes/cars they get around in, what type of shoe they wear, even what location they may be from. We need to change the laws so that ROBBERS GET MORE JAIL time than guys who steal 23 EMPTY BOTTLES.
Good comments Lathguy and cashmoney. The hard working people are always the victims of crimes…crimes committed mostly by people who dont wanna find an honest living…
Not all policemen are bad. Some actually do their job and put their lives on the line. Good job officers. There’s still hope for the police department.
Glad the injury to Flowers not that bad. One thing of cocern i see. This just shows that these guys are walking with guns. they are not stashing them. Belizeans should wake up and see that officers are here to help but like we see on the news people just like when cops get hurt, i have seen it so many time. when trouble knocks on your door hope you can handle it
Most of the time hard working police man just goes un notice and the good ones always pays for the bad, Belizean u need to realize it is indeed a hard job without the propper equipment resorses and man power. i have seen police men patrol without any protection to fight this fire u need fire with fire the crimals have beter gun and weapon than the police here. and look at the police they have family and kids too to live for wen these crimianls have not one sss to live for no they done even care to take some one life.
I am glad to see that some people stop and compliment the officer who was not on duty but put his life on the line as a responsible citizen. Big up to them! Mr. Commissioner, you should recognize these officers’ effort with a medal and a cash prize. Im sure everyone would agree.
This bs is going to continue happening until Mr Barrow decide to make amendments to our laws to fit the present situation that is affecting the jewel.
I am saddened by the reports I have been reading here. I have been trying to convince my husband and family to move to the most beautiful place Belize, but reading these reports, I see that the city / gov. officials have neglected their sworn duties to protect their people and land from the criminals who walk the streets. crime is everywhere but Belizean police should have the tech.and knowledge to deal with it. I hope the people peace and wellbeing. and I hope to visit SOON.