Another Shooting on Neal Pen Road

Alejandro Cowo

There was yet another shooting in the Neal’s Pen Road area of Belize City; the fourth in the past two weeks. But today, police say that the shooting of thirty-seven-year-old Leroy Waller is unrelated and that he was simply at the wrong place at the time.  On the night of Independence Day, Waller was walking towards Central American Boulevard when he was shot to the neck by a gunman.  Police investigations have since revealed that he was not the intended target, but that the gunman was out for another person who stood outside a house on Neal Pen Road attending a wake.  Assistant Superintendent Alejandro Cowo says that Waller was treated and discharged.

ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City

“This happened in front of 187 Neal Pen Road where a wake was taking place. Fortunately he was admitted and discharged on the same night. His injury was a minor one. Yes the man is a person with special needs; we know that he was not the target. The target was somebody who was standing at the entrance of where the wake was happening. Unfortunately, Mister Waller was right beside him when the shooting happened.  This incident from Friday; it occurred yes on Pen Road but the persons involved are not from that area. Yes we are concerned of the increase of shootings in there and hence the reason the police were placed there to put special emphasis at certain locations around Pen Road because it is not the entire Pen Road; it is just about three blocks that are of concern.”