Devon Reynolds, 15 year old minor murdered
Devon Reynolds
There were two murders in the Old Capital over the past weekend within a little over an hour of each other. A minor and another youth fell victim to the gang violence in the city’s meanest neighborhoods on Friday night. Devon Reynolds, a mechanics student, was pursued by his attackers and gunned down shortly after another murder on Berkley Street. That was the start of the weekend’s violence that also included other shootings. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The murder of fifteen year old Devon Reynolds which took place a stone’s throw away from his residence on Kraal Road on Friday night succeeded the brutal slaying of another teenager approximately an hour and ten minutes earlier on the other side of town. According to his mother he had been sent on an errand to look for an aunt who is visiting from the States.
Voice of: Sharon Cooper, Mother of Devon Reynolds
“He already went to two different places and he didn’t find my sister so my mom she said, without hesitation, she said she didn’t know why but she asked him to go and check at one of my sister’s friend’s house and he left and it was not too long after that that we heard the gunshots and couple minutes afterwards we just heard, you know, so many people crying out and yelling that it’s Devon, it’s Devon, you know they shot Devon.”
It is reported that two gunmen alighted a vehicle on Kraal Road, near its intersection with Caesar Ridge Road and pursued him on foot through the Wilton Cumberbatch Field. When they caught up with Devon a few moments later a barrage of shots were fired in his direction, finding their target on his body.
Voice of: Sharon Cooper
“We went out there and we saw him there lying on the ground with like three gunshots to his head. You know it was really hard for me you know and after we came back home and people started talking you know we heard that they had a shooting on George Street prior to my son’s death and we heard that it was out of retaliation.”
Earlier that night nineteen year old Shamir Medina had been gunned down as he rode his bicycle in the vicinity of Plues Street. It is believed that his associates then drove over to Kraal Road where it is understood that both gangs have an ongoing rivalry. The occupants of the dark colored vehicle were looking to even the score.
Voice of: Sharon Cooper
“The car that was back here that the two guys came out [of] that shot my son because [uhm] because they were either in a black or a grey car they said and the vehicle was circling around afterwards the car parked not too far from here up the street over Caesar Ridge Road with the two rear doors open and they said when my son approached it looked like the guys probably told my son something and apparently, I don’t know if my son probably saw the gun that they had and he tried to run. He ran through the field to try to come home from around the other side but apparently they said that the two guys chased after him, both of them with guns shooting at him and he fell and when he fell that‘s when I guess they shot him so many times in his head.”
Scenes of crimes technicians who processed the area were later able to recover several Luger brand expended shells.
His mother described Devon as someone jovial and mannerly and if there was anything he did wrong to deserve his death was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Isani Cayetano
“As a parent, do you know if he may have had any previous run-ins either with the law or any kind of misunderstanding with anybody else? You’re describing him as a victim of circumstance but by any chance would he have had any kind of previous situation?”
Voice of: Sharon Cooper
“Not that I know of. [Uhm] the only thing I think my son had against him is probably living in this area. You know it was just my understanding that it could have been anyone that night, anybody that was on the street.”
The minor, who was an intermittent student majoring in automotive mechanics at the Tubal Institute, was also an avid music lover spending most of his spare time here at the Heights of Vibes Studio.
Voice of: Sharon Cooper
“The only thing he was involved in was playing music. That was his hobby, you know, he was always around offering to play for any function that anyone had free of cost, you know, because he loved music so much.”
Belize City police are presently seeking two suspects in connection with the Friday evening murder. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
As someone who grew up on the south side of Belize City who have seen the changes & lost relatives to this senseless violence over the years, my anger & frustration has been replaced by numbness. Everyone cannot afford to move but who in their right mind goes out on foot in Belize City after dark unless it is an emergency. I am not blaming this child for his demise but we have watched this area deteriorate to the point where the streets are not safe any time of day. At some point we must be willing to make the changes necessary to have the freedom we deserve or find ways to minimize our exposure to the violence. Walking around looking for a visiting relative borders on lunacy. RIP kid.
The level of violence is alarming. Until the perpetrators of such heinous crimes realise that they, will be made to pay with their lives, I fear that element of society will continue to commit these crimes. Its time our society wakes up and realise that by coddling the criminal element, we are only perpetuating this ill cycle.
Capital punishment is a must!
This will never end the senseless brutal murders while this useless gov. And pm lay back and do nothing about all the poor lives being wasted in our country something could have been done about these gangs long ago but this gov. And pm who are impotent do not want to stop it any gang member should be given 25yrs sentence just for being in a gang and then what ever crime is done especially murder they should be hung by the neck until dead rise up my belizeans rise up the hour to march is now now before it is you laying on the street.
Raymond Killa Gentle say .. May God bless the youths of belize city
another murder another youth gone while this impotent gov. and pm stand idly by and do nothing about all the murders going on in the country how sad when you have a gov that doesnt care about its citizens well people i tell you it is time to march march on this useless impotent gov. and pm lets get someone who can lead this country whey unu di wait fa till tha unu the lay ina the street come on people lets get rid of this scurge of a gov. if i was this mother i would sue this gov . and pm for being impotent and useless .
My God! This is an outrage. We have to do something to stop this senseless killing. Belize is out of order. Our teenager, the future of Belize is being wiped out. If the leaders will not step up we have to do the job ourselves. Some way, somehow.
Unlike Shamir Medina, its a damn shame how this little boy lost his life. I don’t feel bad for the trouble makers but I really feel sad for this kid. I know the Good Lord will deal with the culprits accordingly. I look for justice from above now because obviously its not forth-coming from the Belize Police Force. So sad for the male gender in our beautiful country. Their lives have no value.They are being shot down like animals being hunted just for being of the male gender , in certain neighborhoods. They don’t even have to be guilty of any crime. I’ll pray for them all. Once upon a time we had to keep a close watch on our girls to keep them safe now the tables have turned.Like Its wasn’t bad enough that there is a male shortage in Belize. Soon the women will start turning on each other for sharing their men. People needs to start having serious conversations with their kids because this is total nonsense…damn unbelievable.
The criminals respect no-one and no-one is immune to the savagery and bloodshed. ANOTHER ORDINARY DAY IN PARADISE!!! next victim for Tuesday please.
MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON OUR COUNTRY!!! R.I.P. DEVON!!!!
R.I.P Devon, justice will be served one way or another. The rats have to come out of their rat hole, to eat cheese. Maybe when they turn 50 years old, but only time will tell.
This is sick! Makes me sick! These criminals have placed no value on life. The police know the criminals, the government ministers and PM also do. There is a law that prohibits belonging to criminal group or gang. For the love of the children and their future, the AUTHORITIES should do something NOW.
In the absence of their input, VIGILANTE JUSTICE SHOULD BEGIN!!!
The killing goes on and there is no strong action from the law enforcement. In the meantime the politicians are fighting each other like gansters more than politicians. In politics there will be opinions and disagreements over issues, but that makes for healthy debate which hopefully leads to things being done in favor of the country and not for personal gain. A strong leader and I say LEADER welcomes challenges because it stimulates his or her thinking as it pertains to the present issue and not take every challenge as personal. Please if you are a praying Belizean or praying person period please help me to pray for our country that God will release the power of the Holy Ghost to take control over all the evil that has been released over the country. Only God can change the direction of the country.
All convicted murderers must HANG. No excuses, no mercy. I regert it has come to that, but it has, or Belize will be the next Somalia.
@ Al….God needs people to get the work done. Until “The Church” stands up Spiritually against the Spirit of Death…this will continue. It’s Spiritual Warfare, we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against Spirits & Principalities….As parents continue to invite the spirit of Death by abortions, drug use and alcoholism….these killings will continue.
I will say, however, that the gov’t hasn’t done enough. It may be lack of human resources, material resources, know-how, whatever…despite all of that, action needs to be taken. BUT, it starts in the home, in the communities…parents/family/friends will need to stand up against their loved ones…that’s tough…but it’s necessary.
May the God of Peace and Comfort be with Sharon, Angela, Natalie and the rest of his family at this time.
TOTALLY SENSELESS! That useless bunch from Kraal road brought a curse on the entire area. Devon’s parents and grandparents live in yarbra their whole life and never got involved in gangs. It’s a pity those useless set of borderline illiterates brought a war to that entire area and now another youth gunned down like a wild animal!
Sorry for this Kid, But what your parents or brothers sow they may not reap. Other reap it for them. which makes it worst. Have you ever heard a Mayan kid got shot? No! Cas we got our hands, feet to do our $#!% to survive on this !##%up country. sorry mami your son may stan like wa saint at home cas he wa eat. yo dont know what he sowed.
I feel really sad reading this story…my condolonces to this young man’s family & friends…this wicked killing madness is becoming so prevelant in Belize…Very discouraging to read this kind of news almost everyday, living abroard…..I want to go back home, yet I am discouraged whenever I read about these crimes….AND THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT HANDLE THE MURDERERS IS UNHEARD OF!!!….I DON’T KNOW OF ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU CAN KILL, GET CAUGHT AND ARE RELEASED AND LIVE TO KILL MORE PPL!!!!
I SHARE EVERY ONES PAIN, AND APPRECIATE THE OPINIONS POSTED BUT WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP BLOGGING ABOUT THE OUT OF CONTROL VIOLENCE AND INDIFFERENCE SHOWN BY OUR LEADERS AND TAKE A STAND.
SHOW OUR FACES AND GET OUT ON THE STREETS AND LET OUR LEADERS KNOW WE CAN DO MORE THAN WRITE.
I KNOW WE ALL CARE AND WE HAVE GOOD UPSTANDING CITIZENS WHO WANT TO SEE REAL CHANGE, BUT NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE UNTIL WE MAKE THE CHANGE. OUR LEADERS WILL JUST SIT BACK AND KEEP LAUGHING AT US AND KEEP DOING WHAT THEY DO, THEY KNOW WE ARE ALL ABOUT TALK AND NO ACTION.
WE SEE FOLKS AND ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR CHANGE BUT WE NEED EVERY BELIZEAN TO TAKE A STAND AND LETS STOP THIS BS. STOP PLAYING POLITICS AND STOP BEING DIVIDED OVER SMALL INSIGNIFICANT ISSUES. AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
AND DONT EXPECT THE NEXT GOVERNMENT TO BE ANY DIFFERENT.
Only when the masses have the courage and conviction like Minister Cardona will there be a change for the better. But that may be a long way off due the the fact that fear is one of the best deterent against adventure, Individuals are affraid to be single out and reap the brunt of the shallow minded politicians. In the mean time you all suffer in silence and confusion as the next party like volchers is waiting on the side to pick on the carcas of the next election because you all will not give yourself a chance for something new.
WHY DIDN’T THE AUNT VISITING FROM STATES WASN’T CARRYING A CELL PHONE IS MY QUESTION ? THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS KID FROM BEING OUTSIDE I BLAME THE AUNT FOR THAT.PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUT HERE PLEASE DON’T GO HOME WITH ONLY UR RETURN TICKET WHEN U VISIT BELIZE TAKE A CELL PHONE MAKES LIFE EASIER…….AND THIS CASE MAY SAVE A LIFE.
it look like we a play a contest! them call it “who could kill the most black man” bunch a idiots