“Shabba” murdered near family’s home
On Monday night’s newscast, we reported on a shooting on Central American Boulevard. The victim clings to life by a thin thread at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he has been pronounced brain dead. But early this morning, at about six-thirty, Glenstine Martinez was killed by one bullet to his head just outside his home, also on Central American Boulevard. He is the second person to be murdered since Monday night. But aside from the grief and shock brought on by the senseless bloodshed, the families have little hope that anything tangible will result from the investigations. One mother is appealing to government for quick action. Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The family of nineteen year old Darrel Williams was heartbroken when they received the news just after seven last night that he is brain dead and has a very slim chance of recovery. Williams was one of four people who were shot on Central American Boulevard shortly after six yesterday evening. He suffered the worst of the injuries when a bullet penetrated this sign about a hundred feet away and ripped through his forehead as he stood in his mother’s yard. His mother, Ms. McKoy told News Five that they are now contemplating whether to take him off life support.
Ms. McKoy, mother of Darrel Williams
“I was inside my house serving supper and I heard gunshots fly and I came out shortly after and I found my son lying next to this old stove. I basically neva really know weh happen; I noh si anything. Sunday night he come and ih lie down pan di bed side ah mi and ih seh mommy mek I tek wah lee lay down side ah yoh. But when he come lay down side ah me Sunday night, I just get cold, cold. I seh Darrel somebody just walk ova mi grave space and dah wah true thing, as mothers and grandmothers, we all know what that means. So he prepared me for last night and he gave me the strength that I had last night and to this very minute that I’m talking to you here.”
Sixty four year old Steven Rhamdas and his seven year old granddaughter, Jenny Moguel had just gone to buy and they too were hit by bullets.
Steven Rhamdas, Shooting Victim
“When we done get di stuff we di come cross di street and same time when we come cross di street, I di hold fi she hand wen I hear BOW, BOW, BOW, BOW. One ah di bullet ketch me eena my hand. I noh even see dah who, dehn just come and buss di shot pan di street.”
The young girl underwent surgery today in the spinal column behind her neck and remains in a serious condition. Another man, Robert Howard, who was riding by at the time was also grazed by a bullet, but did not go for treatment.
Twelve hours later, just before seven this morning, thirty-three year old Glenstine Martinez became the latest victim, shot in the head as he washed his van to start his work day. His shocked mother stood watching him as he lay dying.
Casmore Martinez, Mother of Glenstine Martinez
“I saw somebody pass behind the van but when I look the somebody take long before ih get to the end of the van and that kinda trigger me. When I saw the somebody mount the bumper of the van take time to get to the end. By this time he was on this side of the van cleaning the van, soh di lee bwai came up to him and tell him something. I did not hear what he told him and he respond back and said something to the little boy. Then the little boy walk off and went in that direction. I couldn’t see what was happening but to my knowledge, I feel like somebody was there waiting for him. So when he spoke with my son there and what my son told him he went back and delivered to whoever was there. Seconds after he came back and he was still on this side of the van and he said something to him again and then my son said something back to him. It wasn’t no long talking, and my son said something back to him and when I look I see my son gone like this. The most thing that hurt me, he couldn’t say nothing to me.”
Casmore Martinez said her son suffered a single bullet wound to her head and died right at the spot. His family soon gathered at his home and business after receiving the bad news.
Ila Reid, Cousin of Glenstine Martinez
“Dehn di destroy good people, people weh focused. This young man do ih business fi years, ih have ih head screw on pan ih body and he just come from out ah nowhere and just tek weh ih life?”
Karen White, Cousin of Glenstine Martinez
“The last time we were together was for the Christmas weekend. They had a party at the house and we were there. He was taking pictures and just having fun singing, dancing, it was awesome and for this to happen this morning it really hurt because we weren’t expecting this.”
Martinez ran two businesses, his restaurant, E and G’s Upstairs Diner on the upper flat of his residence on Central American Boulevard and a tour guide operation. And his mother believes that it was his business that made him victim today.
Casmore Martinez
“I feel like it was a robbery, like they were trying to plan up. I feel like if he had pulled out his wallet and give it to him maybe that’s what he was asking for.”
His family calls on government to take quick and stern action to stop the killing spree.
Ila Reid
“Di system noh di work, dehn have no respect fi dehn self nor elders, soh just put dem away mein.”
Casmore Martinez
“I wish Mr. Barrow and Mr. dis and Mr. dat and all ah dehn start to hang people, start to hang di criminals dehn because if dehn noh do dat people wah tek it eena dehn own hands.”
Up to news time, police have charged no one in connection with any of the shootings. Marion Ali for News Five.
His family calls on government to take quick and stern action to stop the killing spree.
Ila Reid
“Di system noh di work, dehn have no respect fi dehn self nor elders, soh just put dem away mein.”
Casmore Martinez
“I wish Mr. Barrow and Mr. dis and Mr. dat and all ah dehn start to hang people, start to hang di criminals dehn because if dehn noh do dat people wah tek it eena dehn own hands.”
David E.A. Jenkins says: The country reaps what the family sows.
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this is really sad sad I am heartbroken for these innocent person dying like animal at the hand of these killers. To the mother of the young boy that did the shooting,I say bring in your son he must pay for what he did to this man,to the police print out his pictures regardless of his age, he is a murderer, and to the government I say HANG THESE CRIMINALS, these young boys are killing without mercy, we can’t even say its self defence, and to our poeple in this community, lets stand togheter work hand in hand with the police and leaders to stop this madness,PARENTS know where are your children please, the government or the minister is not to be blame fully, its us Belizean,
HANG THIS CRIMINAL!!!
It is now imperative that the the two parties sit down together and find amicable solutions to the crimes happening in our country. This is getting ridiculous and we all need to play our part to fight this crime. It is high time now Mr. Prime Minister to fire your incompetent Minister of National Security and begin a new course in fighting crime. Stop be too political and get the people work done.
Man an man no value life no more that gun man dont know weh him a do by taking a life he cant replace leaving a family without a son an a mother in grief.Mi like the police mi no ask no question when mi ketch dem murderer mi just put dem out a dem misery.Eye for an eye belize police too soft dem need to step up dem game before the badman dem tek ova.
maybe if the government needs to stop thinking about money and instead think about the people., things might change for the better.
THE POLICE IS THE BIGGEST CRIMINALS.WE NEED TO CHANGE THE POLICE SYSTEM AND THE COMMISSIONER.BRING BACK THE BRITISH SYSTEM.
We need jesus!
Hanging need to come back. There must be a why for criminal control in our counrty. We need a curfew and have the miletary takes the street at over. we need drastic measures taken for the sake of our people and our country. Violence is destroying Belize and it must be stop. I’m dread when I think of come home, I am scrade of my own people. Sad, Sad, Sad.
I agree with Mr. Bood, bring back the “BRITISH SYSTEM” I grew up with that system and we never saw anything like this in Belize. Belize was truly a paradise a place to live in peace, you could walk anytime day or night and did’nt have to worry about anything happening to you. I used to be proud to tell people about my country, now when I am ask where are you from I would say Belize but not this Belize of today. I alway thought about coming back to live, but with all these criminal activities I am thinking twice about that decision, don’t get me wrong I love my country but, something has to be done to stop crime. You hang a lady one time, why can’t you hang these criminals roaming around killing innocent people?
if the minister of national security cannot do his job, then move him and put someone who can do something, but now, cause we now live in fear and that is bad!
The government need to start investing in proper police training and investigative methods, when I look at the news I still see police walking with just a hand held radio, no vest, no gun.
I know common security company in the states that can make that whole police dept. look like crap.
I agree with Mr. Bood. Unless, they start doing some serious punishment such as lethal injection, electric chair or hanging punishments – we can see some progess. The Police department is aware that they do have corruption within thier department but will not accept it or make it known to the General Public. As long as they are working very hard behind the scenes to rectify them and implement a code of conduct across the board. The killings will continue if nothing is done. People are taking justice in thier hands and hurting innocent people. We must pray and ask God to help us Belizeans. When we unite in prayer, the prayers are stronger than one man alone praying.
Please pray with me. Please guide the Government and the Police Department to do thier jobs as they were elected to do by us Belizeans. Amen.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH CLAUDE BOOD, BRING BACK THE BRITISH SYSTEM, START HANGING PEOPLE! START HANGING ONE, TWO OR THREE OF THEM SO THEY CAN SEE WER ARE SERIOUS AND YES, CHANGE THE POLICE THEY ARE CORRUPTED BIG TIME.
You and the British System should go to hell.Forward ever, Backward never.
Police have a bunch of lazy guys. they only like to chance drunk men and don’t do their job. many silly things have slipped their hands. a man was knocked down in orange walk and was reported early saturday evening and they could not find the body which was lying on the road side all night. till 6 sunday morning they found him. that is shame for the orange walk police department. imagine that family who know that you left their love one dead on the road side for an entire night. Lazy dumb police!!!