Backfire: Dennis Lamb Gunned Down During Robbery Attempt

Dennis Lamb

A nineteen-year-old man, who has had a history with the law, was shot and killed on Friday during an attempted robbery. He is Dennis Lamb and his fatal shooting occurred on Eleanor Usher Street in the Old Capital. The report from the police is that Lamb had attempted to rob a businessman. Both struggled and when Lamb allegedly trained his firearm at the businessman, he was met with deadly fire. Here is News Five’s Isani Cayetano with a report. 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Nineteen-year-old Dennis Lamb met his tragic end on Friday night after reportedly pulling a firearm on someone he was attempting to rob. That individual wasted no time warding off the attack by producing his own licensed handgun and taking aim at his assailant.  The consequence for Lamb was fatal.  His girlfriend was at home a few blocks over on Holy Emmanuel Street when she was roused out of her slumber with news of the deadly shooting.

Voice of: Girlfriend of Deceased

“I mi di sleep.  Dehn wake me outta my sleep fi show me di picture and dehn tell me ih dead.”

Lamb had been fired upon at least three times at close range, the bullets finding their mark on his body.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head National Crimes Investigation Branch

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Sometime around 9:30 p.m., police were called to Eleanor Usher Street in Belize City whereupon arrival they observed a dark complexion male person apparently motionless on the ground.  What we know so far is that a forty-year-old Belizean businessman indicated to the police that he had [gone] to that area to drop off a friend on his motorbike and whilst inside the yard he was approached by a dark complexioned male person who pointed a firearm at him and uttered certain threats.  As a result, he was able to struggle by hitting the firearm away from him, to which he received a small cut wound to the palm and in so doing, he then pulled out his licensed nine millimeter pistol and fired several shots in the direction of the male person, fatally injuring him.”

From all accounts, Lamb was no stranger to the law.  He had made a name for himself on the streets for the slew of armed robberies he allegedly committed.  While that may be so, his loved ones are of the firmly held belief that Lamb was simply lured to his death following a previous altercation.

Voice of: Girlfriend of Deceased

“They said that it’s a setup, I don’t know.  I don’t know anything.  They say it’s a setup.  The area that he was in, this young man, he doesn’t travel that area.  He doesn’t travel that area so I don’t know how dehn could seh he could wahn go rob somebody round deh.  People, just because ah ih lee background and thing, now because ah ih death dehn wahn use that against he, yoh undastand me.”

Lamb was mortally wounded during the commission of a crime by someone who had the legal right to protect himself in such a situation.  According to police, Lamb had attempted to train the weapon on his victim a second time.  That’s when he was taken down.

ACP Joseph Myvett

“The person apparently just drew a couple steps back and was in the process of pointing the firearm once again.  The weapon was also discovered next to the deceased and it was found to be a .22 BB revolver.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Is this an act of self-defense, sir?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“At this time an investigation has been done and that file will be prepared and sent to the DPP for her directions.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Are you able to say whether or not the businessman will be charged for anything?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Not at this time.  The investigation would have had to be prepared and then the D.P.P. will decide that.”

Lamb, we understand, was not from the area originally.  He moved to the Holy Emmanuel Street neighbourhood with his girlfriend in 2018.

Voice of: Girlfriend of Deceased

“Ih really hurt me because da me ih mi live with and yes, da me bring ahn back ya eena dis area cohn live with me.”

Isani Cayetano

“How long have you guys been back here together?”

Girlfriend of Deceased

“Ih mi wahn be two years.  Ih mi gwein fi two years.”

Isani Cayetano reporting for News Five.