Three Belize City Residents Targeted in Maskall St. Shooting
Three Belize City residents are lucky to be alive tonight after a gunman opened fire at their vehicle on Maskall Street. And, if that street sounds familiar, the last time we visited the area was to cover the Christmas Eve murder of Darnell Puerto and the shooting of his friend Jehvon Ramclam. Last night’s attempted murder happened just outside of the residence where Puerto was killed. As many as twenty-five gunshots were heard by a passenger in the vehicle. Two of them were injured in the shooting. Fortunately, quick thinking and speed led to the preservation of their lives. News Five’s Paul Lopez was on the ground today. He spoke with one of the survivors. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On Wednesday night, twenty-seven-year-old Sherick McDonald, forty-year-old Shanda Conorquie and thirty-five-year-old Ashanti Pakeman, were in a red Range Rover Sport SUV, driving along Maskall Street, off Neals Penn Road, when a gunman opened fire towards the vehicle.
Voice of: Ashanti Pakeman
Voice of: Ashanti Pakeman, Shooting Victim
“This dah like a nightmare come to reality. Yo just the try put it together, how it happened, what mek ih happen and just like can’t bring everything.”
Pakeman, a primary school teacher and a mother of two, was sitting in the backseat of the vehicle, behind the front passenger seat. When the shots rang off, she took cover between the front passenger seat and the backseat. She was injured twice in the left leg while lying low.
Voice of: Ashanti Pakeman
“I couldn’t get my leg down in time and I feel the first shot gone in my body and I bawl out I get shot, and right after that I get shot again. The shots just wouldn’t stop and I tried opening the back door, but I said if I opened the backdoor and come out they will think I the come out fih do something. But, I closed back the backdoor.”
Sherick McDonald, the driver of the SUV, was reportedly hit to the left shoulder. Conorquie escaped without injuries. She says that they were on their way to purchase food. McDonald had to take a detour unto Maskall Street because of ongoing works on Neal Penn Road. When the vehicle drove onto the street, a group of men were standing at this corner. The men quickly dispersed, except for one, the gunman that waited for the SUV to reach within firing range.
Sherick McDonald
Voice of: Ashanti Pakeman
“Even after I done get shot and get treatment and I just the try drop asleep dah just like everything just the replay over and over in my head. I nuh know how to explain it. The pain, I had cyst and baby pain before, but I can’t explain it, this worst than baby pain.”
Police processed the scene and they discovered several nine millimeter expended shells. Investigators have also identified one suspect in connection with this shooting. A clear motive, however, is yet to be established. Authorities are now calling for any potential witnesses with information to come forward. But, for this mother of two teenage boys, she is simply grateful to have survived the traumatic ordeal.
Voice of: Ashanti Pakeman
“Thank you lord, God is good, only by the grace of God. He has a purpose for me and I nuh complete it yet.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
