Gunshots in Gungulung Leaves Michael Gladden Clinging to Life
Michael Gladden
An attempt on the life of a thirty-year-old has signs that gang warfare is flaring up in the city. Michael Gladden is hospitalized after six bullets hit him on Wednesday night just before nine o’clock. Gladden had left his mother’s home and was walking on a London Bridge heading to his house in the Gungulung area when he was pounced upon by a gunman who approached him from the dark. His liver and intestines were punctured and remains in a critical condition. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has a report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
As many as six shots found their marks on Michael Gladden’s body during an execution attempt on Wednesday night in Belize City. The latest shooting took place on Holy Emmanuel Street and is believed to be a gang-related incident. At present, there seems to have been an eruption of violence among rival factions within the area and Gladden, an unemployed resident of Gungulung, is the latest victim.
Voice of: Michael Gladden’s Mother-in-Law
“My own theory which is not even important, I say right now, he lose his job and ih go heng da ih mother during the day and ih come home in the evening. And I noh know if da because back here is blue and out there is red, but then that da just a matter of color, anybody could go da dehn mother. So whosoever do it very, very stupid because if you have a mother you definitely want to go and hail your mother, you understand, and if the area is red or blue ih noh really matter, da deh yoh ma live, da deh yoh fi deh.”
Gladden was walking through an alley sometime after eight o’clock last evening, when he was ambushed by a lone assailant who drew down on him with a firearm. His stepdaughter had just returned from school when she was met with news of the shooting.
Voice of: Michael Gladden’s Stepdaughter
“My grandmother told me that my stepfather got shot, so we hurry rushed to the hospital to see what happened and then my mom was there. She was panicking and she told me that when my stepfather was walking through the London Bridge he received several shots and they hurry take him to the hospital.”
Isani Cayetano
“When you got to the hospital, what did they tell you were the extent of Michael’s injuries?”
Voice of: Michael Gladden’s Stepdaughter
“They said that his liver and his intestines were damaged. They said that the bullet came out though.”
Isani Cayetano
“Did they give you a prognosis as in his chances of being able to survive this attack?”
Voice of: Michael Gladden’s Stepdaughter
“They said that he needed thirteen pints of blood in order [to make it through] because he lost a lot of blood.”
An official account given by police earlier today, supports the chronology of events as told by Gladden’s relatives.
Alejandro Cowo
ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City
“Sometime after 8:50 last night, police visited the hospital where they observed Mr. Gladden with several gunshot wounds to his body. He was admitted in a critical condition and still remains in a critical condition at this moment. What we understand is that Mr. Gladden was walking to his home and whilst on the London Bridge he was approached from an area where a male person came out from a dark area and fired several shots in his direction, causing the abovementioned injuries. So far there is no one detained for this investigation.”
Gladden’s stepdaughter describes him as someone who has since put his past behind him.
Isani Cayetano
“Talk to us about your stepfather, is he related to any one of the groups in this area who may be having an issue with each other?”
Voice of: Michael Gladden’s Stepdaughter
“No, he is from, he stays home. He did his hustle and that’s about it. He noh heng out or nothing like that.”
Isani Cayetano
“So why, in your mind, do you think that someone would attack him in this manner?”
Voice of: Michael Gladden’s Stepdaughter
“I noh know. I really noh know I shock myself.”
The shooting victim is in dire need of a blood transfusion, but is thirteen pints short of what the blood bank requires. His mother-in-law is making an impassioned plea for support from the public.
Voice of: Michael Gladden’s Mother-in-Law
“Well I am on bended knees to any public person or anybody out there who could assist me. If da even financially fi buy some. I not even care if da dollar, five dollars, one dollar, dat wahn mek up fi buy. A hundred a pint, we need wahn lee assistance and we need lotta blood mein, lotta blood. You understand what I mean. This two pints are nowhere to thirteen, not even thirteen, dehn seh fifteen now, you understand, that’s how critical he is.”
Anyone interested in assisting the family with a blood donation or a financial contribution can contact 636-1155 for more information. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
