Two guards wounded in hold-up at credit union
This week had been a relatively quiet one for violent crime. But on the eve of a three-day weekend, two Belize City men apparently couldn’t resist the urge for some holiday cash. And while they were ultimately unsuccessful in their hunt for money, two security guards are recovering from gunshot wounds that could have easily been fatal.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The blood and broken glass found inside and outside the St. John Credit Union tells you just how terrifying it must have been for the institution’s employees and customers.
Genieve Petzold, Witness
“They di scream because shots di fire. They di fire shots, the one outside di fire shots. So the whole of the people they crowded–the bathroom mi full with people because a lot of the people run into the bathroom.”
Daisy Dawson, General Manager, St. John Credit Union
“All I was hearing outside was shots, that’s all I heard and there was nothing. I mean you are so helpless, you couldn’t do anything.”
Around ten-thirty this morning two men approached the lending institution. As one ran into the building, the other man approached one of the two security guards. Lloyd Casimiro says he was standing at his post just outside of the front glass door when the man walked up to him.
Lloyd Casimiro, Security Guard
“The first person that approached me was a slim guy with a little clear complexion. He told me to enter inside, but I thought that this guy was just kidding with me. When he pulled out his gun and pointed the gun at my head. I said, hey man this is getting real serious. So the only thing I could think about is that I was going to put up a fight.”
Even though Casimiro had no weapon on him, he still fought with the gunman. But the assailant managed to break free and ran into the building to join his accomplice. That’s when Casimiro decided to follow him inside. But before he could get through the door, he was shot in the upper right thigh.
Lloyd Casimiro
“The only thing I was trying to do was take away the gun from him, but the gun dropped to the gun and he picked it up and he entered inside again. So when I try to enter inside, that was when I got shot right into my foot.”
St. John Credit Union’s General Manager, Daisy Dawson, had just left her office and was by the teller section when the gunmen confronted them.
Daisy Dawson
“All I can remember was this tall guy with a mask over his face and a gun in his hands. At first it’s like you were motionless and you thought that this isn’t real. But when you heard the first shot, you said, my God this is for real. I don’t know what happened after that, but I remember I was in one of the other clerks office trying to call the police.”
A second security guard–the only one armed–was inside by the front door when the assailants entered the building. The guard, identified as Levi Brown, had his handgun under his belt, pulled it out and returned fire; but he was shot in the right hand and under his rib cage. Police say they have not been able to confirm reports that one of Brown’s bullets hit the gunmen. Dawson says it’s a miracle that none of the guards, her staff or customers were killed.
Daisy Dawson
“It was a busy morning because usually on Fridays we have City Council workers come in, so it was really crowded out there at that time.”
Jacqueline Woods
“When something like this happens what is the staff instructed to do?”
Daisy Dawson
“Well whatever they ask for you give it to them because we don’t want anybody to get hurt. But I must commend the security officers, they really put up a fight and they are the ones that took care of us this morning.”
In the end the bandits did not manage to steal any money, but instead ran out of the building. The police arrived on the scene to collect whatever evidence they could find. Meanwhile, Casimiro says the job of a security guard has become a dangerous profession in Belize City…and that risk multiplies when security companies fail to equip their guards with any weapons to protect themselves and others.
Lloyd Casimiro
“If you put a guard out there without any arms, they are risking everybody’s lives. And I want this to stop right now, because I don’t think I am going back out there without anything in my hands. I’m not going if they don’t give me anything in my hands.”
A team of police officers patrolling the neighbourhood did detain one man who they believe may be able to assist them in their investigation. But so far no arrests have been made.
The last time robbers hit the St. John’s Credit Union was on November twenty-eighth, 2001, when they escaped with over sixteen thousand dollars.
