Former Cop, Taximan Murdered & Robbed in Corozal
Norris Albert Flowers
An ex-policeman turned taxi driver was murdered and his vehicle stolen on Wednesday evening in the Corozal District. The incident happened in the Dominguez Residential Layout shortly after six p.m. and the victim is fifty-seven-year-old Norris Albert Flowers, who lived in the Hermelinda Layout area. Flowers was reportedly parked in front of the Corozal Town bus terminal when a man on a bicycle engaged his services. News Five’s Marion Ali went north for the story. Here’s her report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The family of fifty-seven-year-old Norris Flowers Senior is left distraught and looking for answers after he was found shot to death at around six-thirty on Wednesday evening. His body was callously discarded on a dirt road in the Dominguez Layout area of Corozal Town, with gunshot wounds that penetrated his face. His son, Norris Junior says that the family had pleaded with him to give up the livelihood because of the dangers it posed.
Norris Flowers Jr.
Norris Flowers Jr., Son of deceased
“He di come to the age weh ih di get old, yoh know eena kriol wi seh wi di get old, soh wi mi already di talk to ah about it, yoh know, give it three more years or a couple more years and then yoh have to think about something else eena the future or retirement, yoh know. And he was also thinking about it too.”
Flowers had left in his cab from in front of the Venus Bus Line Taxi Drivers’ Union with a young man who rode up on a bicycle asking for a drop to San Andres Village. His friend and fellow taxi driver, Roberto Bautista told News Five that he and Flowers were sitting down and chatting only minutes prior to his murder. He also said that a fellow taxi driver was initially approached but he was busy at the time, so Flowers took the job.
Roberto Bautista
Roberto Bautista, Friend of deceased
“Mr. Matu, another taximan that was here, was busy on his phone talking to his wife. So Mr. Matu said Mr. Flowers, this gentleman needs a taxi. So he was sitting down there with me and he said “okay then, no problem.” So he open the trunk and the guy pick up the bicycle. I couldn’t see his face because same time my daughter called me.”
Bautista said the individual put his bike in Flowers’ taxi and they left. That was the last time he saw his friend alive. Meanwhile, all that police say they found on the deceased was a silver ring on his right ring finger. All his other possessions, including his wallet, cell phone and car were gone. Police found the gray Toyota Corolla around noon today in an area behind the IT-VET in the same area where the murder took place. Flowers frequently visited the nearby fire station where he had a bond with the firemen. Salvador Max, a fireman and friend of Norris Flowers, told us that they will all miss his presence.
Salvador Max
Salvador Max, Friend of deceased
“Ih usually ask we fi a lee advice sometimes, or ih come and ask we fi fix ih phone as he nuh text-savvy soh ih got wa lee phone weh ih wudda want we help ah out with or you know, ih got wa lee engine problem or anything he usually come and we assist ah. Sometimes we wudda check out fi he vehicle cause if ih just buy a vehicle ih wudda come (seh) “Bwai weh yoh think bout this fi wa lee taxi?” And we assist ah – very, very nice guy.”
Roberto Bautista said he’ll never forget their last conversation.
Roberto Bautista
“I tell him, I seh we’re going to get four uniforms for each. I seh but you will get eight. Ih seh “but why.” I seh “because you are twice the size of us.”
Police have since recovered two expended nine millimeter shells and have reportedly detained someone pending investigations. Marion Ali for News Five.
