Sudden Death for Ladyville Teen, Brandon Bradley
Brandon Bradley
The Ladyville jurisdiction of the Belize Police Department recorded its third murder since the start of the year. On Wednesday night, a seventeen-year-old student was gunned down on the Lord’s Bank Road, just a stone’s throw from where he lived in the village. Brandon Randy Bradley was riding home when he was shot to the chest, back and shoulder. Despite being wounded, the ITVET student ran from his attacker, but collapsed a short distance away in bushes. His body was discovered by his brother minutes after the shooting occurred. Another family has been left to suffer following gun violence in the community. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Just before ten p.m. on Wednesday, Brandon Bradley, a student at ITVET Belize City, was gunned down as he was heading to his house in Lord’s Bank. Just minutes earlier, the seventeen-year-old was socializing with a group of friends near a popular hangout spot a short distance away from where he was shot. He would then get on his bicycle and within sight of his house, he was targeted by at least one gunman; shot multiple times to the chest and back.
Voice of: Joshlyn Bradley, Sister of Murder Victim
“He just mi di heng with ih bredda and ih sister-in-law. We noh know weh happen. He just mi di ride fi come home. He call mi ma before ih reach and when my ma hear the shot, my ma tell my sister that dah Brandon get shot. And then my ma run out and then she see dah only slippers; dehn noh see he and then they see ahn.”
Two expended shells were recovered from the area, but residents say that the echoes of up to six shots reverberated in the distance. But as the Bradleys began a search for Brandon, they would later discover the minor facedown in bushes thirty to forty yards inside the Green Garden Estate Compound, right across from where they lived. His body was taken out the gated community and across the street where police would later arrive to process the scene.
ASP Juanito Cocom, Commander, Ladyville Police
“About ten-thirty p.m. Ladyville detectives responded to an area on the Lord’s bank road by the entrance of Green Garden Estate. On the side of the road, the detectives observed a motionless body of a Hispanic descent, slim-built person laying face up with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to his chest.”
Juanito Cocom
Only Brandon’s slippers were recovered from the scene; his bicycle and the knapsack were stolen. According to the family, he had recently received a scholarship to ITVET where he was pursuing a certificate in architecture. But who would want the youth dead?
ASP Juanito Cocom
“The investigation is very young as yet so we cannot determine that factor as yet.”
Reporter
“Have police in anyway come across this young man before sir? Is he a law-abiding citizen as far as Ladyville police are concerned?
ASP Juanito Cocom
“One thing I could say is that he has come into our custody several times already; most of them are for profiling and loitering and things like that.”
Voice of: Joshlyn Bradley
“He dah noh trouble bwai. He change ih life to be an electrician. All he mi di study about dah just that and just the other day, he mi di talk to my brother about he want change ih life and he mi wah start build ih house and thing. Honestly, he dah noh bad influence. All he do dah just stay home.”
Brandon Bradley
Reporter
“Is there anyone that probably had any beef with him or somebody who really would like to harm him?”
Voice of: Joshlyn Bradley
“I’m not sure about it but I think it is just about jealousy. The way how he keeps to himself and he dah wah person he save fi he money and he safe fi weh he want. He gets what he wants. He works hard for his money. I think dah just that the person weh deal with ahn just neva like how he behave.”
No one has been detained in connection with this homicide and police investigations continue. Duane Moody for News Five.
