Leader of Southside Gangsters gunned down at the Courthouse

Andre Trapp

A cold-blooded murder paralyzed downtown Belize City this morning. It was a brazen attack in an area where justice is dispensed and where police presence was heavy. It ended the life of a reputed gang leader on the pavement just in front of the Magistrate’s Courts. Across the street at the Supreme Court, a jury of twelve was being selected to hear the murder trial of Keon Myvett Williams, aka ’Doppy’. That case was soon adjourned until next week and the courts postponed hearings for the rest of the day. One of the jurors exited the court room only to learn that her brother had been gunned down. It is first big test to the newly appointed Minister of Police Doug Singh, and ends a month-long lull from gun violence that may very well spike up again.   News’s Five Isani Cayetano has a report.

A midmorning shooting near the steps of the courthouse has sent a loud message to law enforcement authorities as a notorious figure in the city’s underworld was ruthlessly gunned down seconds after exiting Courtroom Number Two.  Twenty-four year old Andre Trapp, believed to be the leader of the Southside Gangsters, appeared in court this morning to answer charges of drug trafficking.  Shortly after the session was adjourned Trapp headed toward the parking lot behind the National Institute of Culture and History where it is reported that his assailants who were inside a parked vehicle opened fire on him.  The mortally wounded Trapp ran in the direction of the courthouse where he fell to the pavement across from the Brodies Pharmacy.

According to one eyewitness, he was sitting on a nearby porch when he heard the shots ring out.

Wilward Jones, Eyewitness

“When I heard the shooting I run come out to see what had happened and I just see the guy come from behind, running from behind the corner of the courthouse there and he fell right down there, roughly about fifteen yards away from the back of the corner of the place; fell in that little bit of pool of water and his body was on the concrete.”

Trapp was murdered a few feet away from the Supreme Court Building in downtown Belize City shortly after ten o’clock amidst a heavy crackdown on the Old Capital by police and B.D.F. personnel to rid the streets of crime and violence.  His father, Sigmund Emmanuel, was at work in the Tourist Village when he received word of the shooting.

sigmund emmanuel

Sigmund Emmanuel, Father of Murder Victim

“I was by the Tourist Village which a ship came in and I was working and suddenly we saw the ambulance leaving the Tourist Village from inside and a friend of mine by the name of Orlando we were standing together and as I said what’s wrong the way the ambulance left.  Up came a person that was walking which I could not remember and the person said there was shooting at the Magistrate’s Court and I said what could have happened at the Magistrate’s Court we know at the end of the day there is so much security out there so how someone could get out there and shoot?  Which then we relaxed for at least about a minute then a friend of mine weh work inside Mirab by the name of Bash came out and said, “Sarge da weh that wih di yer ova deh?”  Ah say bwai shooting da di Magistrate’s Court.  Well he has a brother that works at the Magistrate’s Court and he called immediately and as he called he said Sarge dah yo son.  So ih say mek a mek yo talk to mi bredda so I ask his brother what’s wrong and he said yes bwai dah yo son Andre dehn just shot up di man back a di court and ting.”

But while Jones heard the shots and saw Trapp fall to the ground he was not able to make out the young man’s attackers.

Wilward Jones

wilward jones

“When I heard the shot the fact is I was kinda scared.  I didn’t know where to go because there was quite a few other people up there with me and they, some ran in, some ran out, you know.  But I was inquisitive enough to take a good look out and that’s what I saw when the guy was running out and collapsed and fell down.”

Trapp was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital minutes after the incident but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

Across town a few hours later chaos erupted on Caesar Ridge Road near Trapp’s residence as officers attached to Operation Jaguar conducted a search on the premises.  A very shaken primary school student, a relative of Andre Trapp, recounted the experience.

Cousin of Andre Trapp

“We dih sihdown di play di mine fu we own business.  We dih play me and my two cousin dehn and dehn just a come come march een and bust open the gate ahn come eena dih house and point up gun pahn we.  Weh we do?  We nuh do nothing.  Dehn I so frighten I jump up ova deh dih try jump cross di fence fih get da my ma.”

Isani Cayetano

“Do you know what they were looking for?  Did they say anything to you?”

Cousin of Andre Trapp

“No.  Dehn noh tell me nothing, me hurry run come round the gate and me come dah my ma.  My two cousin dehn dih cry.”

Equally disturbed by the incident was another of Trapp’s cousin.

Cousin of Andre Trapp

“The four kids was in the house watching TV when some trooper of police barge eena dih house with guns atta dih four kids dehn; point the gun atta the four kids dehn eena dih house and dehn still noh give the reason why dehn barge eena dih house.  Dehn search everywhere, deh run around the house.  I noh know if dah Andre spirit dehn dih run atta round the house and got the kids dehn, the kids dehn always believe that the BDF was here to help people but they are not.”

Andre Trapp was no stranger to the law and it is believed that he was wanted by other gangs in the city since last year.  On Tuesday January 12^th a grenade was lobbed at his Caesar Ridge Road home.  Fortunately, no one was injured in the explosion but it was speculated that Trapp was the intended target. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.

One person has been detained for questioning. It is believed he is one of the two persons involved in the murder of Trapp and who fired at police as he fled the area. Tonight, foot patrols have increased in anticipation of retaliation by rival gangs.