Nicholi Rhys is Gunned Down on Neal Pen Road
Nicholi Rhys
There was a daring attack shortly after one p.m. today on Neal Pen Road that claimed the life of thirty-two-year-old Nicholi Rhys. The deadly shooting also injured Jervis Samuels who, police say, was in the company of Rhys when a lone gunman approached them. The unnamed assailant pursued both men and opened fire on them as they fled on foot. Rhys is no stranger to law enforcement and has a rap sheet that dates back to January 2013, when he was accused of the murder of Andre Trapp, a reputed gang leader. In October of last year, Rhys was acquitted of the murder of Jose Moh, a cab driver who was shot and killed in May 2018 after being called to pick up a fare at New Asia Restaurant. Tonight there are many questions surrounding the gangland execution of Nicholi Rhys and whether his death is connected to an ongoing feud within the George Street Gang. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
This afternoon on Neal Pen Road, a well-known street figure in Belize City was gunned down and another individual who was around at the time of the deadly encounter was injured during the brazen attack. Nicholi Rhys, no stranger to the law, met a fateful end sometime after one p.m. when a lone gunman approached and let loose a barrage of shots in his direction.
Musa Shaeed
Musa Shaeed, Resident
“I deh back deh through my hole eena my alley and all I hyah da bow bow bow and I creep outside and when I creep outside I sih dude lean up down deh pan di front page and soh I whip out my phone and I mek a dial. Well actually, I come back home cohn get my phone and I creep back out, mek wah dial and nobody noh di ansa. Same time we sih wahn mobile di cohn and di dude mi di move.”
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, it is likely that Rhys and another victim, identified as Jervis Samuels, were pursued by their attacker. The scene of the shooting was littered with expended shells, as investigators began the painstaking task of gathering evidence.
Hilberto Romero
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“Earlier today, police responded to a shooting incident here at Neal Pen Road. Upon their arrival, they learned that two male persons had been shot. They were immediately taken to the KHMH where one of them succumbed to his injuries at the KHMH. He has been identified as Nicholi Rhys and the other victim was shot to the foot and he was identified as Jervis Samuels.”
Isani Cayetano
“Are these individuals residents of this area or they happened to be here for some other purpose?”
Hilberto Romero
“One of them lives here and Nicholi Rhys came to do some work on his car in this area.”
Reporter
“In terms of Jervis, was he innocently hit and was Mr. Rhys the target?”
Hilberto Romero
“We are not sure. At some point he was along with the deceased and he received one gunshot to the foot.”
Isani Cayetano
“Numerous shots were fired. Does it suggest that either Mr. Rhys or Mr. Samuels were pursued into the area where they were shot?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, that is what the scene is showing. They were approached and they tried to run away and they were followed by the shooter who then caught up to Nicholi Rhys up the street.”
At the time of the shooting, another resident of Neal Pen Road was crossing the street to purchase cigarettes at a nearby shop. He saw two persons running and heard a volley of shots behind them.
Isani Cayetano
“Two persons were shot earlier, one is presumed dead and the other is at the hospital. What did you hear, did you see anything, was there anything told to you about what took place there?”
Resident
Resident
“Okay, like I said, I was buying cigarettes and then I noticed two people running down the street. One obviously had issues with the other, it‘s not my business, but like I said, I was buying cigarettes, I noh know what da fi dehn problem. Story done.”
Isani Cayetano
“You heard a barrage of shots being fired, you saw something, what happened?”
Resident
“I heard the shots and because I was on the ground and I heard the shots, numerous shots.”
Rhys was a known affiliate of the George Street Gang and several attempts had been made on his life in the past. He had also been charged and acquitted of murder on several occasions.
Isani Cayetano
“Is there by any chance a connection? I know that on Wednesday the Commissioner of Police alluded to an internal situation within a Belize City gang and all understanding is that Mr. Rhys may have been involved with that particular group. Is this perhaps the spillover of that particular feud?”
Hilberto Romero
“That has not been established. Again, we are working on the information that we have, but that has not been established as yet.”
Musa Shaeed lives in the immediate vicinity of the attack on Rhys and Samuels. He says that residents attempted to render assistance to the victims, including Rhys, but that effort proved futile. He says that a murder such as this had not taken place in the area for quite some time.
Musa Shaeed
“We just help dude up, put ahn eena di mobile and dehn took him. I noh even know di dude, yoh dig, I noh even know di dude, I noh even know di situation but ih just foolish, honestly. I just feel like da wah failure to the system, broad daylight, midday, da like after one, literally.
Reporter
“Is this the first time in a while that you‘ve seen violence on this street?”
Musa Shaeed
“Really, ah wah be honest, ih noh been that much of a long while but it’s been some years weh we seen like dehn gruesome lean up deh. You know, like di last time I she wahn lean up like that da when dude right deh pan di curve, you know, and that da like probably five years ago or something or maybe less, maybe I di misjudge. But I noh know mein, I personally, like ah said, disrespect, disrespect. No respect to di youth dehn. I had to stop some parents, like don’t bring them kids to see that.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
