The first murder for 2010: man stabbed while trying to stop a fight
Salvador Martinez
The calm at the beginning of this year was holding… at least for the first eighteen days. But on Monday evening the first murder took place around six o’clock during a high school football game. It was not a student that fell victim nor does his murder appear to have gang influence. In fact, it was a twenty-seven year old man who police say intervened to stop a brawl between students at the M.C.C. Grounds. News Five’s Marion Ali looks at what was behind the murder.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The bloodstains on the upper flat of a two storey concrete structure inside the M.C.C. Garden are the telltale signs of something gone awfully wrong at the football stadium on Monday night. Reports are that the first of two football matches, one between Ladyville Technical and Sadie Vernon High, had just finished when the incident occurred.
Kendis Ferguson, Sports Coordinator, Sadie Vernon High
“A scuffle, major scuffle started at the top of one of the buildings over there. That is what we witnessed starting. Ultimately, what we found out after it ended was that one of our students was wounded while a couple other fellows who were involved with the brawl were also inflicted with stab wounds.”
The fourth form student, Jevon Arana, suffered a stab wound near his right thumb as he reportedly tried to escape the melee. But twenty-seven year old Salvador Jose Martinez was not so lucky. He suffered stab wounds to the upper part of his body after he and two friends, Edwin Mendez and Elton Meztken, were attacked by a group of three. Police say the three inquired if they had a problem with one Justin Usher and then began to beat Meztken. That was when Martinez reportedly tried to stop the fight and was stabbed. Sports Coordinator at Sadie Vernon High, Kendis Ferguson, said Martinez did not stand a chance.
Kendis Ferguson
Kendis Ferguson
“After the brawl had ended, what everybody witnessed was some guys running through the back end of the compound and jumping the gate. After that some guys came down, our student being one of them and were trying to put a fellow – the one who got fatally stabbed I was told – on a bicycle to take him to the hospital. What we witnessed was as he was exiting because of the nature of the way the gate is constructed he needed to get off the bike handle to cross the bicycle through a main entrance and right at that area he apparently fell.”
Both Ferguson and President of the Central Secondary School Sports Association, Dion Sutherland, say had the field had police presence as they requested, they believe the incident would not have ended in murder.
Dion Sutherland, Pres., Central Sec. School Sports Assn.
“The last incident of murder happened at a football game at MCC at a high school game couple years ago and from there we tried to put in some measures. Last year the principals met with Assistant Superintendent Henderson and he ensured them that the police would show up at games, but that they would not be paid because these are services that they must render to these youths. Somehow the police took that differently and they show up when they want if they want. As far as football goes, we have only had police once, last week and that was because I personally called Mr. Henderson and informed him that we did not have any police. Yesterday I showed up at the M.C.C. around ten to four and I have it recorded on my phone that three minutes to four I made a call to the station that we didn’t have any police. The young lady I spoke to said Mr. Sutherland the person in charge left already so I don’t think you’ll be having any police and maybe tomorrow.”
“I’ve not recognized the presence of any police officers at these games so far. But that is not to say that there are not police officers posted. I can tell you that I have not seen any during the games. Anyone who is there can tell you that if there are a hundred persons are at any of these games, it is safe to assume that seventy-five of them came over the fence. So the security is definitely an issue.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bart Jones, told News Five late this evening that the Police Internal Unit is investigating the allegations against the Department. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
Police have recovered the murder weapon and have detained four persons, including a minor. They are on the lookout for a fifth person.
It’s sad to see the way this youngman died! He has a family they are heartbroken we really need to work on our justice system it is failing all of us!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P brother… been years since we’ve seen each other…we’ll meet again!! SJC family..
To be honest with u.we all knw that this very world we living in is getting worst everyday and it is gonna continue if us humanity do not get our selves right and my regards goes out to the victim family and may god blessed there hearts.to all my belizean people and everyone around the world need to know if they keep on acting like they dnt have any sense at all that god gave them.then they need to pray to god that the same disaster that hit haiti you all need to pray that it dnt happen to you all.because the way i see it the earthquake that hit haiti it was a wrath of god.he is trying to let us humanity knw if we keep on acting like this there is more to come.like he said he will come like a thief in the night.and for one we all dnt knw what 2012 is gonna bring.and trust me people we all dnt want god to get more angry at us.and my rgards also goes out to the family and victim that suffers that terrible earthquake in haiti.and may god and his son jesus and his angels be with them all.
Someone should be fired!!!
It’s very sad. I wish the authorities would be more vigilant and the people of Belize we all need to search ourselves and stop all this BS
am the cousin of Salvador Martinez and i need too get a number to call Sasha Corea or Xiomara Martinez
i dread everyday when reading the belize news that someone is killed by there own people. its just sad to see belizeans killing each other for no reason, just a shame.
Hi, sorry to say this but it’s the Gov of Belize that sleep up on this type of actions that is taking place in my country, they need to get real serious and stop play with those kids that is taking people lives for fun, They need someone like me to help them put a plan in place, tuff love is the only way out of that situation in Belize, my prays goes to all the victims that was innocent.
Belize is a small country and crime should be controlled…the laws should be more strict on murderers and rapists…they should do like before when criminals were put on the street to work on the developement of the country..they should be put to work not be fed in the prison with taxes paid by the people of Belize..our taxes are even used to feed these criminals so sad!!
So….sad…this was like my brother and the reason he did what he did was because he knew some of the individuals fighting…we all loved football and you will be missed Salva…Raptors football club will miss you…your family will miss you…
WHY DOESENT THE GOVERNMENT TAKE ALL THOSE KILLERZ IN BELIZE AND TAKE THEM TO IRAQ ON FRONT LINE. SINCE ITS SHOOTING AND STABBING THAT THEY WANT TO DO… THEN TAKE THEM WHERE THEY COULD DO IT.
sad…may he rest in peace..and may Belize stop seeing violence on its streets..peace xoxo
Lissette, please get in touch with your aunt Malena, she’s in contact with your uncle Salva.
stop the violence in the city of Belize, please.
its like we went from a godly town to a gangsta town……..
violence fi stop, and peace fi deh dah top./…………
Hey, I just wanted to say what a fantastic website. I totally enjoyed it and found it fascinating reading. Awaiting your next post!
I am a Belizean living in Los Angeles for 21 years.I was always proud to tell everyone that i am from Belize and how great our country and people is,now i am afraid to tell people that, i am even afraid to go home i visited home(Belize) twice a year for the past 8 years now when i am there i don’t even want to go out that is real bad ,when i lived in Belize these things never happen when someone died it was from old age or an accident,something needs to be done.My best friend just lost her dad(william Neal) to murder,come on there need to be an end to this madness.
IT is a sad story but tru. Crime is increasing in our Belize and no one is doing nothing. since the same authority are doing crime why we the people dont take authority for ourselves. look at our government killing us with taxes but no one does anything. foot ball was once a way to bring people together. know its another form to meet enemies and kill. we need professional people at our stadium and get more authorites. from the referees do stupidity in the field that causes fans to fight with each other. BELIZEAN its so embarrassing to the point we are arriving. no control no authority and every one will kill themselves like dogs and cats. LETS start doing authority ourselves.
Belize, Belize!!!! I am so ashamed of Belize…what is the matter with us Belizean???what?????
Is it because they are just too many idle minds!! less people that are NOT EDUCATED???? Our government is killing us, slowly but for sure!!!
where is the security? Police officers NEED AND M UST PERFORM SECURE MEASURES IN ORDER FOR CALM TO PREVAIL… ” TO SERVE AND PROTECT”thats what they are being paid for….how will they tolerate a football match to be taking place without no security??? It’s like they are giving criminals “A GO AHEAD” to do the stupidness that they inspire to do!!!
our justice system is killing us also, innocent people are dying, killers, murderers, rapists are LAUGHING!!! LET THE CAPITAL ONE PUNISHMENT BE PLACED BACK INTO RULING, KILL ALL WHO DNT CARE ABOUT LIFE, PUNISH ALL THOSE WHO DO THINGS TO BE PUNISHED….. I am so ashamed to be a Belizean… let’s work together to make things right…
my heart goes out to the family of Mr. Martinez and other victims…… prayers to the Haitians
I want to thank channel5 for having this post, where we all can share our views.
JOB WELL DONE!!!!
I agree with some of you, I was proud to say I was from Belize (Benque). Now its a shame to say it, because Belize is full of corruption, we can’t even trust the police now…In Oct 2008 My only brother got killed and they didn’t even investigate, the closed the case because they say it was a suicide, and mostly everyone in Benque and our family know it was a homicide. Police didn’t try to investigate, they know what happened, one of the same police said that my brother couldn’t have done it on his own, because of they way it happened and little things that could be seen, etc… police in Benque just sit there and do nothing!! No authority in our country, they don’t even take any fingerprints, nothing!! If it would have happened here in the US the killers would be in prison now….Police in Belize?? what do they study??? just how to drink and beat the poor people?? cause that’s what they like do….there’s no justice in Belize, worst in Benque!! Police should have a better education, they should really learn how to investigate a crime, maybe they can take a course here in the US, that would help a lot….POlice Dpt need better equipment for taking fingerprints and all that stuff related to crime, that’s the only way they will help determining if it was a suicide or homicide!!!
regardless of what is going on in belize its still my country and i love it and always will and i am hoping and praying that the killing will stop soon so that we could live happy and peasefully as we were back in the 70s and 80s i will love to come home more orften to be with my family and friends my prays will always be for you my beliezean people ONE LOVE AND GOD BLESS AND SAVE OUR BELIZE
Salva was like a brother to me, he was a member of rapters football team since he was a child, he was a very good friends of my brothers, Salva, may your soul rest in peace and may the violence in Belize stop. I think that we should go back to the british system and start hanging these murders, or atleast take them to Iraq to war since they want to fire bullets and stab people up….PEACE Brother
NO!NO! you cannot blame the government for the crime situation in our country, the blmae falls fully on the parents, I grew up very poor in a southern village 60yrs ago but I was raise and taught to respect people, to repect other people belonging, and to work, I was never given what I wanted only what I needed, and never to beg. These criminals are young and healthy, they can work, I use to sell food when I was younger without shame. Listen, there is work but this criminal just want thing the easiest way, rob other money to get what they want, Kill innocent people sometimes for just nothing. SO you guys think twice before you blame other, look at yourself in the mirror and see what you are doing or what you can do,We need to go back to bible principles.
The CRIMINALS are out of countrol in the CITY,and no one can bring the CRIME down,does the city have a POLICE force?maybe i should ask,who do the POLICE in the city work for?but yet the city si showerd with every type of improvement,the city has a big hospital,good gyms,culture center,basketball court,while the rest of the towns and villages in the country have NOTHING,yet the people in the city are out of countro.what can be done?
As a Newbie, I am usually searching on-line for articles which can guide me. Thank you
It is awesome to see this blog is finally getting the attention that it deserves! Keep up the great work.
Excellent post, couldn’t agree more
its been almost 3 years now and still nothing has happen our justice system is very slow eventually the young man that killed Salvador Martinez will walk free. that is the new trend now for belize its sad that my 5 year old son still ask for his dad and i am unable to put the words together to let him kow why his dad was taken away from us.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ANOTHER MURDERER CANT WALK FREE.