5 shots but no fatalities in city assault
Coming off of two murders last weekend, this week has been fairly quiet when it comes to crime. And today Belize City literally dodged a bullet–actually several bullets–as an incident that could have ended with multiple fatalities…didn’t.
Jacqueline Woods, Reports
Shootings in the city, even in broad daylight, are not unusual, but what has Belize worried is the increasing number of innocent bystanders caught in the line of fire…like Anna Luisa Munoz. The thirty-seven year old taco vendor was at her usual location at the corner of Gibnut Street and Central American Boulevard around eight this morning when she was shot in her right forearm. Munoz was serving two customers, identified as Solomon Gabourel and Herman ?Yagga? Morris, when they were shot at by two young men on bicycles. According to the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Branch, Detective Inspector Santaigo Ciau, their investigation tells them that the shooters wanted Morris because of an old dispute.
Det.Insp.Santiago Ciau, O.C, CIB
?It looks like this is a personal thing within the suspect and the victim Gabourel and Herman Morris. Our investigation is showing that there is an old beef between the two. As we see it, an innocent person who is the tacos vendor, a female, received shot in that process when one of the suspects fired several shots at Gabourel and Yagga. Our investigation is showing that Yagga was the intended victim.?
A total of five shots were fired. One of the bullets, which bored a hole in the front of Munoz?s food cart, is believed to be the slug that caught her in the hand and ruptured a vein. Munoz, who has been working in the area for a year and a half, says she is terrified and did not wish to appear on camera. However she did tell us what happened.
Voice of: Anna Luisa Munoz, Shooting Victim
(Translation from Spanish language to English language)
?I was selling this morning and two guys arrived and wanted to buy two dollars tacos. I was making the tacos for them when two other guys rode on bicycles and they started shooting at them. The men spoke in English so I cannot tell you what they said. The same time they started shooting, I felt and saw blood all over my body. The guys who were shooting just ran away and sometime after the police came and took me away and one of the other guys who got shot. I do not know if I will continue to sell because I am very, very afraid. The doctor said that they had to give me three stitches and one of my veins was affected. The doctor says that the bone is not broken and I will be able to use my hand after I recover, but for now I must exercise the hand by moving my fingers. I am terrified and I do not know if I will continue to do business.?
Morris, a member of Operation Positive Reinforcement of Youth For the Future was not injured, but Gabourel received three gunshot wounds to his left leg and one to the right ankle. Police say both Morris and Gabourel in the past have been in trouble with the law. Today authorities plan to reinforce security on the city streets.
Insp. Santiago Ciau
?Well the police are very concerned in this point in time. We are trying to get more officers on the streets to try to slow down the shootings that are occurring within Belize City. We have names of person who are involved in those shootings and we have patrols to be on the lookout.?
In connection with this morning’s shooting, the police say they have received the names of their suspects and are now seeking to arrest them.
