One Man Detained, Still No Charges for Deadly PG Shooting

Glenford Hines Jr.

Police are yet to levy any charges in respect of Sunday’s murder of Glenford Hines Junior in Punta Gorda though one person is in custody. Hines was gunned down on Price Street and the general view is that he was not the intended target. In the aftermath of his senseless murder, there has been an outpouring of grief for the athlete who gave selflessly for those in need. Here is News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Twenty-four-year-old Albert Valentine remains in critical condition at the Southern Regional Hospital where he is being treated for gunshot wounds sustained during an armed attack in Punta Gorda on Sunday night.  Another victim who was senselessly targeted by Valentine’s assailant is at the morgue in PG.  Thirty-six-year-old Glenford Hines Junior is described by relatives as a man for others.

Curtis Hines

Curtis Hines, Brother of Deceased

“He’s a very, very open-minded person, you know, a person that speaks his mind and he’s a very inspiring person.  He always speaks to people in a way that tries to influence them to do better, you know.  That man, to be honest, put food on the table for many people out here on a daily basis.  You know how many people are going hungry right now?  Just this morning, I met people hungry.  Dehn seh bwai if ah mi sih Talla right now ah noh mi wahn hungry right now.  Dehn di scrape up wahn lee scraps fi try buy wahn lee food.  Dehn di cry di talk to me dis mawnin, you know, and dehn thing deh hurtful because my bredda help out wahn lotta people down ya.”

Hines’ community involvement also included working with a local football team.  As someone who was very much into sports, he was always around young athletes.

Devin Trapp

Devin Trapp, Friend of Deceased

“It’s a big loss because we just came from a victory and we were planning what we were going to do for Christmas and what we were going to do when we win the tournament.  We were planning a trip because he was the captain for our team.  Now, I don’t know what we’re going to do but we gotta try and win the tournament in his name now.  He’s with God now.”

What is equally sad is that Hines’ mother, upon seeing her son fatally wounded in front of the family home, also had to be rushed to the Punta Gorda Hospital where she is being treated for a chronic condition.

Jamie Hines

Jamie Hines, Brother of Deceased

“We’re just trying to keep it strong, you know, especially for my mom because she is a heart patient and she is actually in the hospital right now on oxygen.  So we just gotta be strong, right.  We can’t be too sad and showing them those faces because that’s gonna break them down more.”

As for Valentine, his various run-ins with the law earlier this year had him scheduled to appear before the lower court on Monday morning.  Someone was intent on canceling his court appearance.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“We also know that Valentine was to appear in court this morning in Punta Gorda to answer to several charges he had before the court.”

Police were able to detain one suspect who was removed from the three o’clock bus to Belize City on Monday morning.  While charges have not been brought, we can tell you that the individual in custody was freed of a murder charge as recent as October twenty-first, following the shooting death of a Belize City resident in February 2015. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.