Two Men Shot on Antelope Street Extension
Jason Rivers
There was a shooting on Antelope Street in Belize City on Tuesday night. Two persons were injured and fortunately for them, it did not turn out to be fatal. One was at home with his family when he came under fire and the other was riding his bicycle when he was met by the gunfire coming from two men who were driving by on motorcycles. There are no arrests so far and the motive is under investigation. Here is News Five’s Isani Cayetano with a report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
A thirty-five-year-old resident of Antelope Street is lucky to have escaped grave injuries on Tuesday night when he was struck by a bullet inside his home. Jason Rivers, according to his grandmother, was with his family on the second floor of their abode when someone came looking for him.
Adela Straughn, Grandmother of Shooting Victim
“I understand that dehn mi upstairs di sleep, he and ih gial and ih two children upstairs, thank God, and somebody come and call ahn. Ih come downstairs but eena di house, inside di house ih still deh when somebody fire shot through di window or somewhere and then he get shot eena ih leg and one ah di neighbor ker ahn da doctor ah hyah. That’s all I know.”
Also injured during the gunfire was twenty-four-year-old Raheem Vasquez. Police say he was riding a bicycle along Antelope Street when was fired upon. Vasquez, who lives in the Gungulung area, was shot in the arm.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We had a shooting on Antelope Street Extension last night where two persons were injured. One was injured to the hand, the other one was injured to the foot. One of the persons injured is Jason Rivers.”
Rivers’ grandmother who lives a short distance away admits that she was not aware of the incident until someone came by to inform her that he had been injured moments earlier.
Adela Straughn
Adela Straughn
“I just hyah ih get shot and ih gaan da di hospital, so I gaan da di hospital and I sih ahn ih leg, but dehn seh di shot gaan through one part and ih come out. So I said thank God for that because it could have been worse, you know. That’s why ih good fu parents cover dehn children with God. Then the mother is not here.”
A preliminary investigation into the incident indicates that the crime was committed by a pair of men on a motorcycle. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams shares more details.
Chester Williams
“Two persons on a motorcycle passed by while he was speaking to somebody and fired shots, causing the injury to him.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Any motive as yet?”
Chester Williams
“At this time, no.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Have the investigators been able to speak with the victims?”
Chester Williams
“Yes, they have been able to and they have not been able to identify who the shooters were.”
In describing her grandson, Adela Straughn told News Five that Rivers, who also goes by the rap alias “357”, is not someone known to have enemies within the area.
Adela Straughn
“He da wahn mild person, but ih like tek ih lee drink sometime. And that’s all I know about he, ah noh know he as no bad somebody. No time I hyah he behave bad. He always deh hom, you know. When ih deh home ih tek ih lee drink and that’s all I know about him.”
Isani Cayetano
“Is it perhaps the area, because that part of Antelope Street seems a bit rough?”
Adela Straughn
“Yes, sometimes wahn lotta bwai like deh eena di yard deh. Ah noh know weh dehn come from but dehn always eena di yard.”
ComPol Williams is also on record stating that Rivers is not known to be involved in any gang activity. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
