Orel Leslie is Ambushed & Executed on His Way Home
Orel Leslie
Residents in the area of Albert Street West and Yarborough in Belize City, are still shaken from the gun violence on Sunday night. They were, for the most part, inside their homes when what sounded like an automatic rifle unleashing rounds after rounds of bullets on a target permeated the air. There would be a short pause and then another round of gunfire. As many as forty expended shells were recovered from the scene where police say a nine millimetre pistol and a forty calibre weapon with extended clips were used to carry out the execution. The sound of a vehicle speeding off was later heard. The news then spread like wildfire that thirty-four-year-old Orel Leslie had been murdered as he headed home on Yarborough Road in Belize City. Leslie was a suspect in a murder back in 2012, and was a known affiliate of a notorious gang in the Lake Independence area of Belize City. He was subsequently acquitted of the murder charge five years ago, and was a well-known businessman, as his family owns several pharmacies. But did Leslie’s criminal involvement come back to haunt him? News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
He was travelling inside his red pickup truck on Yarborough Road en route to his home on Dickerson Street. Orel Leslie was on the phone with his girlfriend and less than two blocks away from his house. As he approached the pedestrian crossing in front of Mount Zion Seventh Day Adventist Church, Leslie was ambushed by two gunmen who unleashed a barrage of bullets in his direction. He told his girlfriend that he was shot and later lost consciousness before crashing into a tree and fence at the Saint John Anglican Cathedral.
Hilberto Romero
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“Upon arrival, they found one Orel Leslie, thirty-four years, with gunshot injuries to the body. Information received is that he was passing that area when he was approached by two male persons who fired several shots at his direction whilst he as inside the vehicle.”
Reports are that even after he drove off, the gunmen ran up to the crashed vehicle to unleash another barrage of bullets on Leslie. Moments after the shooting, his girlfriend arrived on the scene. She combed the vehicle before police arrived on the scene and Leslie was rushed to Belize Medical Associates where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Quick police response led to the detention of two male persons on a motorcycle, suspected to be the shooters. Recovered from them was one nine millimetre pistol with two extended clips. Investigation into this matter continues.”
Reporter
“Sir but we have received reports that automatic-type weapon was used and we received reports also that a forty-calibre rounds were found.”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“These weapons are not automatic; they are semi-automatic – a nine millimetre pistol and a forty calibre weapon.”
Reporter
“But only the nine millimetre you recovered?
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Only one nine millimetre was recovered.”
In an interesting twist, ACP Hilberto Romero confirms that a stolen nine millimetre pistol was also discovered in Leslie’s vehicle.
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Yes, a nine millimetre pistol was found in his vehicle.”
Reporter
“Is it licensed? I understand it’s licensed, but stolen.”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Yes, it is a stolen firearm. It was reported stolen about two weeks ago.”
Reporter
“I understand a suspect is wanted in that theft.”
Orel Leslie
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Yes, one person is wanted, yes.”
Reporter
“Is that person a female linked with the gang that Mister Leslie?”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“We do not know. We only have the two person that were apprehended at this time as suspects.”
Leslie was no stranger to the law. He was one of several men charged for the November 2012 murder of B.D.F. soldier James Norales. In 2015, he along with Tyrone Meighan and Brandon Baptist, was freed of the charge in a trial before Justice Troadio Gonzalez. The D.P.P. appealed the decision of the Supreme Court and a retrial was ordered by the Court of Appeal in 2017. In July 2018, the trio was once again acquitted of the murder. That same year, Leslie brought a lawsuit against the Belize Central Prison, claiming that he was mistreated and suffered harsh conditions while behind bars.
Audrey Matura
Audrey Matura, Attorney-at-law [File: November 28th, 2018]
“He got ill several times. He was dehydrated. There were basic things like water that was reduced. They took away his deodorant, his toothpaste. He was not allowed to even go out and exercise. He was locked down – sometimes not in all the cells – behind what they called the iron curtain. That means you have no ventilation just an iron window with just a glass. It’s a form of punishment. There is no electricity. You are literally placed in a dark, damp place. No mattress, no sponge, nothing to sleep on except a cement slab. When we complaint eventually he got a sheet.”
There has been a simmering feud between rival gangs in Lake Independence, and Leslie was a known affiliate of the Backa Lands Crips. In a way, Leslie’s execution was foreshadowed. In fact, News Five understands that the persons detained following the shooting are members of the PIV gang. They were intercepted by police on a motorcycle near Pallotti High School.
ACP Hilberto Romero
“They were on a stolen motorcycle. They were intercepted by the flag monument area by the Pallotti roundabout.”
Reporter
“Can you confirm that these persons are connected with a gang in Belize City?”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Yes they are connected.”
Reporter
“So is it the indication that the murder of Mister Leslie was related to gang activity?”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“That is correct.”
Reporter
“From what the police know, was he still involved with the gang at the time of his murder?”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“We have certain information and we are following leads that we have, but I cannot confirm if he was active in the gang at this time.”
Police are preparing for reprisal as a result of this murder.
ACP Hilberto Romero
“We are setting up an operation to minimise the threat of retaliation. But yes, we expect some form of retaliation.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
