Christmas crime begins; two murders in Belize City

This week has been a deadly one so far. There have been three murders and the latest two were recorded this morning when shots rang out in separate incidents, but in the same hood. The shootings happened just two blocks away and within one hour of each other and shortly after the two victims were dead. The first for today occurred just before six-thirty at the corner of Monroe Street and Pen Road. But this was not the first time that the victim was shot. Two years ago he was targeted near his home on Kraal Road, and one of the bullets ricocheted and hit him. Marion Ali has the details in the following report.

Marion Ali, Reporting
When twenty-nine year old Jason Flores was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital just a few minutes before seven, he was still alive. In fact, his common-law wife, Natalie Brown, said he told her his feet were getting numb. Brown said Flores had just left home and was going to his worksite at Maheia’s Construction when he was shot to the side of his body.

Natalie Brown, Common-Law Wife, Murder Victim
“He gwein dah work right and corner ah di lane and Pen Road I hear ih get wah gunshot. Fi me dis very hard. Dehn just tek my man from me just like dat.”

Flores died before doctors operated on him. While police have detained no one, they are approaching the case cautiously.

Clement Palacio, Police Press Officer
“Police are embarking upon looking at members of the different gangs that are involved in rivalry and they are trying to conflict resolute. I won’t say he was a member of a gang, but again the investigators are looking at that angle.”

But Natalie Brown vows that Jason Flores was not in any way linked to any gang.

Natalie Brown
“No gang member can’t seh dat he do dehn nothing, maybe dah sake ah di neighbourhood. Nobody eena Belize or eena di world cud seh dat he do dehn something.”

Police are pursuing a number of suspects in connection with this first killing. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.

Jason Flores was the son of popular Punta Rock artist, Mohobob Flores. He leaves behind an eight year old daughter.