Lynroy Longsworth, a Victim of Gang War in St. Martin’s
Lynroy Longsworth
Police believe that taxi driver Lynroy Longsworth is a victim of the ongoing gang war in the Saint Martin’s area of Belize City. On Wednesday, Longsworth was operating his dollar van along Mahogany Street and while he dropped off a passenger, a gunman exited Periwinkle Street and opened fire at him. He was struck multiple times to the body and perished on the scene. Tonight we get official information about the latest murder in the city and speak to his family, who remain in shock about his killing. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Voice of: Sister of Deceased
“It was a shock to us. I am still shaken up; still can’t believe it, but this is the way life is right now.”
Duane Moody, Reporting
The family of Lynroy Longsworth is in disbelief as they mourn his death. The thirty-five-year-old resident of Maxboro Community was fatally shot on Wednesday afternoon as he drove his dollar van on Mahogany Street in Belize City. Two passengers were inside the van and Longsworth came to a stop near Periwinkle Street; that’s when a gunman came up and opened fire at him. Longsworth was hit multiple times to the body, but drove off to escape the barrage of bullets. Unfortunately, he lost control of the vehicle which crashed into a parked car in front of JB’s Hardware Store and died within a few minutes.
Supt. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Eastern Division
“Police responded to an incident of shots fired on Mahogany Street. As a result, they visited that address and made checks in front of JB’s Hardware where they observed two vehicles; a white in color car and a grey in color van. Inside the grey van, police observed the motionless body of Mister Longsworth who had apparent gunshot wounds to his body. He stopped to drop off a passenger and while that passenger was exiting the van, a male person approached and fired several shots at his direction causing his fatal death.”
Back in July 2019, Longsworth and his girlfriend were arrested and charged for drug trafficking after they were busted with marijuana during a search of their residence on the Philip Goldson Highway. But that did not motivate his execution. Instead, CIB Commander, Superintendent Alejandro Cowo says that his murder is gang-related and connected to the recent gun violence in the Saint Martin’s area.
Supt. Alejandro Cowo
“Mister Longsworth is well known to us and we believe that he was an affiliate of one of the gangs in that area hence the reason that he may have been targeted.”
Duane Moody
“So a part of the wider gang war that is happening in the Martin’s area?
Supt. Alejandro Cowo
“We believe so.”
Alejandro Cowo
But according to his sister, Longsworth was not known to be caught up with any gang.
Voice of: Sister of Deceased
“Not that I know of. He was a very kind and loving person. I don’t know him as a gang member. That’s all I can say about him. He was a very loving person; kind, always the smile and he surely will be missed. I always remember him as the dancer in the family. He was a dancer; he always the dance. Every time we have family get together, he always be the one to have us entertained and have us laughing. He will surely be missed.”
The incident occurred in the broad daylight, but Superintendent Cowo says that police have been active in the area.
Supt. Alejandro Cowo
“Police have been very active in the Martin’s area since the recent shootings in that location. They are a number of police officers that have been deployed at very strategic points in that location. This incident happened in broad daylight, however, the police were also engaged in other stop and searches in the Martin’s area when the incident occurred.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
