Central prison attacked in 2 shooting incidents in one night
There was an exchange of gunfire at the Hattieville Prison on Tuesday night. Twice gunmen opened fire at prison officers in the dead of the night. No one was hurt and police were today processing the scene. Who did the shooters want? Investigations are ongoing but there is one report that the shootout may be connected to the officers held there for the recent cocaine bust. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
There was a shootout between gunmen and employees of the Kolbe at the Belize Central Prison last night. Today, armed police officers were investigating and looking for clues and shells along the highway. Kolbe’s C.E.O. Earl Jones explained.
Earl Jones, C.E.O., Kolbe
Earl jones
“Last night we had two separate incidents that took place where there were exchanges of gunfire between the prison guards and other folks from a vehicle. At this time we’re still trying to assess the whole situation so we cannot be releasing any information as the police is investigating this matter further.”
Jose Sanchez
“My understanding is that the same vehicle came twice, at eleven-thirty. Where did they shoot?”
Earl Jones
“Ahm, as I said we’re still assessing the whole issue, getting in the reports. I cannot reveal to you how many shots were fired. Where it was fired at, at this point in time, or what vehicle was used because the matter is still under investigation by the police.”
At eleven-thirty p.m. a sport utility vehicle drove to one end of the highway across from the guard tower in the agricultural area of the prison. Several men jumped out, the vehicle drove off and the men then opened fire on the tower. A volley of fire was then exchanged between the tower and the highway. Peace was restored but no one realized that the men did not leave but were hiding in the bushes. By two a.m. the SUV returned to pick up the shooters. Before entering the vehicle more gunfire was exchanged. They then drove along the highway and escaped. The details are still unraveling.
Earl Jones
“We would have hoped that we could release that information. But what we can say to the general public is that the situation at the Belize Central Prison is under control. And all prisoners are accounted for in this facility.”
Jose Sanchez
“Anyone was hurt?”
Earl Jones
“No. no one was hurt in the incident. No one was hurt.”
Jose Sanchez
“Can you say if at least it was a lot of fire power or just a couple shots?”
Earl Jones
“Well as you could look around, the police are still trying to assess how many shots were fired by picking up the expended shells. At least that could give us an idea of how many rounds were fired within the whole process.”
With inmates such as the Sewell brothers and the five police officers held in connection with one hundred and forty million dollars worth of cocaine that was destroyed, a break out or possibly a break-in are not farfetched to imagine.
Jose Sanchez
“But you do have some high risk detainees at this moment. Have any information come to you that it might be related to the police officers who were recently arrested because of that drug plane?”
Earl Jones
“Well it determines what you consider high risk. We have a number of people in our facility that I can say. At this time we still need to look at each individual whether to say the risk is high or low. But I wouldn’t want to say we have high risk people. All our inmates are considered high risk as far as we are concerned. As to the level of their risk, we’ll have to reclassify them and see what’s the level of their risk.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
Time for BDF to set an ambush and wait. It’s good practice, and if the gangsters return — and they likely will — the BDF can get some live fire practice.
The wild, wild west. I am sure there are security cameras with night vision, if they are Belizeans, BPD has a clue who these wannabe commandos are. Take them out.
If the Cartel or Organization are involved, I hope that whomever ordered this action realizes that all this will do is justify extraditing suspects without due process because the laws will change to reflect what is going on whether or not we like it.
going to get worse before better….
Goodness,,, Why wasn’t the whole army of belize call to guard the prison after the eleven shooting… so these people who were shooting could be caught,,,,aye people so we can know what is really going on,,,, only in belize…. they should have had taken extra \security around the prison … common sense …. ever since the bust .. they should have kept a secret watch ,
no even ina prison u safe………………….. Laad da wey BZE d get 2??????????????
Extradite suspects without due process, save our ministers some extra for their pockets.
And let them go into the USA to do the shooting!!! HA!
This might have just been a test run by the cartel to expose the vulnerability of the prison’s security once they decide where the weaknesses are then they will be ready for the real thing, seems like Mr. Jones does not have much to offer in the line of information probably should have an interview with the guards that were manning the posts.
If this is about those held regarding the cocaine bust it is more likely that their boss wants them rescued so that he can pay them for failing to perform their duties after all no one can escape from a Belize Jail and hide in Belize for too long only way to freedom would be to get out the country.
They should have let them in through the gates, then emptied their magazines on them. They can’t come back from the dead to do it again!
Why was it that the BDF were not on high alert after the first attack. This would have prevented the commandos to not be able to escape. But again there is that lack of decision making by people like Mr Jones. Prison officials need to think strategic thinkers and not always be in a reactive mode. If I have prisoners who are involved in the lost of millions of dollars of columbian’s drugs, I would plan for the worse. Mr Jones said he does not think he has high risk prisoners, these officers are high, high, high risk. Columbians do not play with their drugs and their arplane. So Mr Jones, let me inform you sir, put a strategic plan in place and do not be caught with your pants at your ankles. Go through all the what ifs with your tactical unit if you have one.
rootsman, I agree with you, except the only payment these officers will get from their drug boss is a bullet in the back of the head after they are tortured. These officers should pray that the prison breach fails, they are deadmen walking. They will probably be killed by their own country man who will take money to kill them. Money talks in Belize,. Mr Jones needs to watch some crime shows so he can learn a few things. He is the CEO, why is his security head not speaking, or does he have one that is as dense as he about security. The problem with people like Mr JOnes, they do not want to ask or listen to anyone who can give them some common sense strategies for prison management.
hope it’s not the cartel looking for the officers who never carried out the business as supposed to, and if they are damn!! they won’t play either, maybe this is just a warning and Mr. Jones is taking things easily. like i said before, if they really burnt the drugs in B.S.I. surely the cartel will come to get some people regardless where they are, or their family memebers. We’re not use to these things but soon we’ll start living that drama because of senseless people who by their greed of money and wealth will bring the wrath of cartel violence in our jewel.
This is getting intresting!!!!!
If shooting is taking place that means there’s someone in there that they
are trying to kill!!!!!!
Lets not be blind the colombianos want to revenge for having such a huge lost!!!
Who know(MAYBE) the police men are really innocent and its just a set up
so that true suspected names of people may not be revealed!!!!!!
POLICE MEN one way or the next ur gonna go down might as well u start call names!!!!!!!!!!!
dah wah lat a good ting gawn up in smoke. I feel like deh weh aff di police and di customs offisah bifoh dek ku taak. I would get a cell phone or a camera and make a video jus in case!!!!
agree Al ! columbians da nothing fi play with. 140 million that ka get push ova rite soh!!!!!!!!
but its a sad situation for our country! 🙁