Minor Charged for Shooting a Vehicle; Injuring 6-Year-Old

A seventeen-year-old minor from Mayflower Street in Belize City was remanded today following a shooting incident on Saturday morning, in which a minor was injured. According to police, just before ten a.m., officers responded to shots fired at the corner of Vernon Street and Central American Boulevard. Upon arrival there, police were informed that a minor had been taken to the hospital with apparent gunshot wounds to the body. But would later confirm that six-year-old Lemar Orellano was injured by shards of glass from a vehicle he was in which had been shattered by bullets aimed at a fleeing target.  Orellano suffered injuries to the upper right side of his back; as he was seated in the rear passenger seat of a Dodge Caravan. Police confirm that the young gunman fired up to ten shots at his target, who escaped unhurt. The minor was apprehended with a gun in hand when responding officers fired a warning shot. Assistant Superintendent Alejandro Cowo explains.

Alejandro Cowo

ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., CIB, Eastern Division

“Police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they observed a male person, a minor by the name of Lamar Orellano. Indeed he was at the hospital and upon inspection of the injuries and the classification of the doctor, the doctor certified that his injuries was as a result of the remnants of a windshield that had splintered and hit the minor to the back and it was not a gunshot injury. The minor was inside a vehicle that was parked in front of Gadgets Store when a male person came from the east side of the boulevard and fired shots at another male person who was on the west side and as a result several bullets struck the vehicle that was parked which caused the injuries to the minor. As a result, police quick response in the area led to the apprehension of a minor who was in possession of a nine mm pistol. Police also found on the scene ten expended shells and four live rounds were inside of the magazine which the minor had. So far, the minor was charged yesterday for Kept Unlicensed Firearm and Ammunition, Kept Unlicensed Ammunition and Discharging a Firearm in Public. We understand that the shooting is as a result of the two rival gangs within the immediate area. As of Saturday, the parties that were involved, I know that Mister Williams was to meet with them to see how we can diffuse this situation.”

Duane Moody

“Can you say if the minor is from the Ghost Town area?”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“He’s from the Mayflower area, yes.”

Reporter

“…and was acting alone.”

ASP Alejandro Cowo
“Yes, he was by himself at the time of the shooting.”