Taylor’s Alley man, Tulio Caceres, murdered on Majestic Alley

Tulio Caceres

Gun violence has claimed the life of two men in fifteen hours; both murders are gang related as the city is gripped by a resurgence of gang warfare. At around ten-thirty this morning, a gunman opened fire on thirty-year old Tulio Caceres who was hanging out at Majestic Alley, considered hostile turf for the Taylor’s Alley resident. The shooting happened dangerously close to Saint Mary’s Church and Primary school, which was forced to call off classes for the rest of the day. Caceras was gunned down immediately in front of the City Hall and a block away from the Queen Street police station.  Police recovered eight expended shells from the scene of the crime; family and onlookers were in shock at the sight of Caceres’ lifeless body that laid face-up on the cement pavement. Duane Moody was at the scene of the crime and has a report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

A broad daylight murder at the corner of Majestic Alley and North Front Street has put police on high alert going into the weekend. Around ten-thirty a.m. thirty year old Tulio Caceres, who also goes by the name Pinelo, was gunned down as he socialized at the park across from City Hall. His lifeless body laid on the cement pavement for an hour as police processed the scene of the latest homicide in the Old Capital. Family and friends as well as onlookers stood in shock.

Supt. Gualberto Garcia, O.C., Precinct 3, Belize City Police

“Initial investigations reveal that the deceased person is Tulio Caceres a thirty year old building inspector of a Taylor’s Alley address. Information so far as that at ten-twenty-nine a.m., the deceased was in the park immediately in that same corner. There is a picnic table there where he was socializing with some people when a lone gunman came from the direction of the north side into the park and about ten feet from the deceased; he fired about three shots at him. The person ran out of the park towards the area of Pink’s Alley. The gunman chased behind him firing shots until he managed to catch up with the person who collapsed on the corner of the street. The scene revealed a total of eight expended shells. So, eight expended shells were recovered from the scene. The body showed several gunshot wounds; two of the major wounds are one gunshot in the back and one in the chest.”

Caceres worked with the Ministry of Housing, but is a known affiliate of the Taylor’s Alley Gang and as of late has been seen frequenting Majestic Alley. By all accounts, Caceres was socializing in enemy territory; today he was clothed in a grey shirt, blue tennis and three-quarter blue pants. While a motive for the homicide has not been ascertained, the police believe the murder is gang related.

Gualberto Garcia

Supt. Gualberto Garcia

“Unfortunately, at this time, we do not have a motive as such as to why he was killed, however, I can confirm that it is gang related and we are treating it that way.”

Reporter

“Now sir, people are of the opinion that Taylor’s Alley, Majestic; they are rivals. Why would this person from Taylor’s Alley be in enemy territory?”

Supt. Gualberto Garcia

“Well every day we have meetings amongst ourselves, dealing with intelligence, dealing with gang rivalry that is upon us and we basically know who the players are; the different gangs who is related with who and who are rivals. And this one is new to us because as you have said, this guy is…where he comes from is a rival to the area where he was murdered. And apparently he was socializing in that area. So it is new to us and we are very specific about what is the situation with that.”

Back in April of 2012, Caceres along with several others persons including the now deceased Taylor’s Alley Gang Leader, Arthur Young, were reportedly victims of extensive use of force by the Gang Suppression Unit of the Police Department. Days later, Young would be killed.  At the time, when we spoke to Caceres his jaw was broken.

Tulio Caceres [File: April 12^th, 2012]

“Well da night deh when di man dehn cohn, di man dehn really cohn thru you know like no sense.  [Dehn] just wahn bruk up people.  Di man dehn end up di mash up my ankle.  My ankle still noh get betta and thing yet yo geh di sense.  I still di limp up.  cut to weh I mi haffi gaan tend to.  I mih gah wah fractured shoulder to same way weh I still cyan’t really do no strength pan dis hand dehn kinda way.  Then my jaw da mi di main part though.  I tek out my wires dehn before di time, my wires dehn weh fu hold down my jaw but I gah wah pin eena my jaw unda my chin yo check.”

No one has been detained, but police continue its investigation into the murder. Superintendent Gualberto Garcia says that the investigators will be reviewing surveillance cameras nearby that may have possibly captured the shooting. They are also asking for support from the public.

Supt. Gualberto Garcia

“The police is out there, we have stepped up our patrols; people can see the patrols being conducted there on a daily basis, almost twenty-four hours. And these criminals would always have the upper hand because they have the opportunity for them to pounce on their victims. And that is what happened this morning. Unfortunately, this person, I believe, was at the wrong place at the wrong time. We are looking even at the possibility if he was lured there because the person being at that area doesn’t add up. There were a lot of people on this thoroughfare; if you go right now, you will see in that very same spot where he was sitting it is very crowded. And believe at the time of the shooting, it was no different. Unfortunately, the routine scenario, the people didn’t see and didn’t hear anything. So I’m asking you to help us to deal with this problem.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the nearest police station or contact Crime Stoppers Belize at 0-800-922-TIPS. Duane Moody for News Five.