Gun violence rises; more police to patrol streets
It’s a situation that has become something of a running joke in Belizean society: “Bwai, who get shat todeh?… Gyal nobody dead yet?” But even if it is a joke, we shouldn’t be laughing. Everyday in Belize City the echo of gunshots rings through the streets, and if we’re lucky, everyone ducked in time. But while it makes sense to get out of the way, it certainly isn’t the answer to the problem. Today News 5’s Jacqueline Woods took a hard look at the situation in the wake of separate shooting incidents on Monday that have left even the police shocked.
Jacqueline Woods
Belize City Police say they do not believe separate shootings in the Rocky Road area near East Canal were gang related…rather the acts of trigger-happy individuals with little regard for human life.
The first incident, which occurred around one Monday afternoon, left residents traumatized, but unhurt. But six hours later, a second hail of gunfire left one woman, identified as twenty-two year old Kendra Humes, suffering from injuries to her right leg.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“She was standing at a store just minding her own business and some shots were fired. She reports that she saw someone who she believes was the one who fired the shots, but as we speak, so far no one has been arrested.”
According to law enforcement authorities, the Rocky Road area is just one of the city’s hotspots. Previous incidents have caused authorities to establish a strong security presence at the location to address the situation. So why do brazen acts continue to occur with such frequency?
G. Michael Reid
“We think it can be much better if the people in the area themselves would get involve, would alert the police whenever they see people with guns, whenever they hear of things that might be getting ready to occur.”
Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid says the police are not taking the matter lightly. Their answer to the problem: an increase in patrols. But the cops can’t be everywhere at once and that simple fact, combined with the reality that victims and witnesses are afraid to come forward, means things are likely to get worse before they get better. Reid says such behaviour is endemic to the city, as citizens in the districts don’t have a problem reporting criminal activity to the police.
G. Michael Reid
“It’s a situation where there are lots of guns out there. We know that many of these young men with these guns want it known that they have guns, certainly not to the police. But there are people out there who know where these guns are. We are appealing to folks who have any information to use the 922 hotline, let us know for the safety of everyone in this community and society. We need to remove the guns from the street.”
Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
In connection with the first shooting incident on Monday, the police have recovered eight nine-millimetre shells and bullet holes were observed in a small wooden house. Meanwhile, Kendra Humes, the victim injured in the second shooting, remains admitted to ward at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
