Conch Shell Bay Shooting Victim Paralyzed; Community Rallies
Keimar Nicholas
Nineteen-year-old Keimar Nicholas is paralyzed from the neck down and remains bedridden at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The teenager was seriously injured a week ago just outside of his home in the Conch Shell Bay neighborhood in the Old Capital, a community that has seen a rise in violent crimes since the beginning of the year. Tonight, his family and friends are seeking public assistance in getting him medical treatment in Merida, where he can get specialist attention. Since the near-fatal attack last Monday, the area has seen a virtual shutdown by members of the police department. This evening, we got an update on Keimar’s medical condition from a close family friend.
Shadheed Haulze, Friend of Shooting Victim
“The update weh I get from his mother is that he is paralyzed. So we just haftu continue pray and hope for the best that he can pull through, tries to pull through. We ask the nation to please pray, pray, because prayers do work, you know.”
Isani Cayetano
“Is there any effort being undertaken by the community or by the family to be able to raise funds to see how they can get him abroad for further medical treatment?”
Shadheed Haulze
Shadheed Haulze
“Well right now, today we decided that we want to do a barbecue sale for him, you know, for Keimar Nicholas. On the eleventh of February, that will be on a Saturday. We ask the nation if they want to give any donation, anybody who could assist. His account number, Holy Redeemer Credit Union, his account number is 40696 and my phone number is 661-2671. You can get me and I can get his mother because his mother has no contact at this time, you know.”
Isani Cayetano
“Talk to us about this neighborhood after this spate of shootings last week. How has it been in terms of police presence and in terms of a sense of personal security in this area?”
Shadheed Haulze
“Well the security is strong right now. Chester got some police around the area and it supposed to be this Wednesday he’s supposed to have a meeting on the basketball court with the neighborhood and the neighborhood peel from this incident happen. You barely see anybody around.”
Keimar’s attacker, Enfield Fitzgibbon, has since been arrested and charged for attempted murder. He remains on pretrial detention at the Belize Central Prison.
