MS-13 Tags Belmopan Nazarene Church; Bullets Found on the Grounds!
Is the MS-13 gang marking its territory in Belmopan? The Belize Police Department doesn’t believe so. In recent weeks, the gang has been tagging buildings and public spaces in Belmopan. And the most recent happened over the weekend at the Belmopan Nazarene Church. But this time, the gang has also left behind some ammunition on the church grounds. The police doesn’t believe this is a direct message to the congregation or pastor of that church but instead that the bullets may have been accidentally left behind. Police were called out to the church around eleven on Sunday morning – and today ACP Joseph Myvett says the vandalism is random but they are investigating.
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“Police were called to the Nazarene Church on Garza Street Belmopan, where they observed in the front of the church several graffiti sprayed on to the building marked MS-13. While in the area conducting searches, police also discovered ten nine millimeter rounds of ammunition and one seven point six two rounds of ammunition. We are seeking several suspects in relation of these graffiti as several other areas were seen with these graffiti.”
Joseph Myvett
Andrea Polanco
“Sir, what do you make of the ammunition there? Was that a random placement or is that targeted move or sending a message?”
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head
“We believe they had probably fallen out of the pocket of one of those persons involved as it is also believed that this act was carried out during the night as the person who initially made the report secured the church sometime around eight pm in the night and then left the area.”
Andrea Polanco
“Sir, this tagging of buildings with these gang signs – what do you make of this?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“Well, we have seen a few in Belmopan that are under investigation by the anti-gang task force and where those persons are found, certainly charges will be levied against them; one for the graffiti and we would then try to establish their affiliation with these gangs before other charges are proffered upon them.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, you consider it just random graffiti; tagging of buildings or is this some sort of way the gang is asserting presence in the area?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“At this point in time we do believe it is just persons going around spraying buildings as opposed to persons marking territories.”
Reporter
“Should residents be on high alert and cautious of these gang elements in Belmopan?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“I wouldn’t go so far to say that because so far we haven’t found any residences that have been targeted by spraying of graffiti. It is usually public buildings or buildings that are not occupied on a twenty-four hour basis by persons.”
Myvett told the press today that they are looking at surrounding communities as a result of the tagging of buildings. Since last year a small unit of the anti-gang team was assigned to Belmopan and several persons have been charged under the gang regulations.
