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 12th 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.
To rid Belize of the drugs and gang members of that society the root of the problem has to be (permanently) eliminated from the society.
I share no remore over the death or the manner in which this gang leader died, I am personally sick and tired of the rats of that society, their own destruction or death means one less problem to deal with.
The way you die determined how you lived your live some would say, and I have to assume that he always knew that his life would end this way, sooner or later.
Its a shame that Police would point guns at minors. They should have been the ones to take the criminals down. They have no courage now after the job is done they would go and put kids at risk.
The next time it will be in the court house because in Belize its who you know someone smiles at the guards or Police and they walk in without getting search. Same problem with custom officers. If they know you or know you brother or sister you walk through customs with anything or just say one of the minister send you to buy something for his family or I am bringing something for Mr. whoever is in power at the time. This is true. I heard this comment I am standing in line behind this person .
One more life gone but I am sure the Police appreciate the help and would like to take the credit.
A reputed gang leader has a sister in a jury. LOL…was she judging another SS gang member?
That’s why nobody’s ever guilty in Belize……
Finally! At long last, we are making progress. Gangsta man killing gansta punk. Let’s not dwell on Trapp’s death. Let’s rejoice and hope that they continue to eliminate each other.
i have to say this but in belize is who you know. the country is too small for all this gang and drug even in the ministry all this is going own. belizean be ready GOD coming is near.
I will not celebrate the death of yet another dead Belizean brother. However, I will not be taking too much time lamenting over his death either. Heaven knows how many other brothers this gangster had killed, injured or order killed.
In the issue of police pointing guns on minors, I don’t believe it. I would agree from the television footage the officers and soldiers had guns, but pointing it at little children not so. And then we see all the television drama of the ” fear” of guns when in fact those guns in that area have bigger guns than police and bdf and I am almost sure that little girls crying on TV had seen bigger guns.
hope them killed each other until they get rid of each other, sorry to be so hard but its time to get rid of these gangs leaders and Belize to become a peacful city.
I have live in belize city almost all my life, now that i am 70 years I can’t believe our country is so messed up because of these men, in my younger days Belize was the most beautifel city to live in, to visit, we had freedom, love and peace and all because of these men things change.
He have gone to rest where he belong in HELL with Satan!!!!!
We’re turning into Gotham City. We need Batman!!!
It is written in the Bible. If you live by the sword, you die by the sword. Hey, the same goes for gang banging. YOu live by the guns, you will surely die by the guns. It’s reality.
Wake up, Belize!
what amazes me is this point where one of the jurors is this criminals sister. why will they accept this in the court? this clearly shows why this case end up in criminals walking free. so what IF before this other on this guys same gang members were in court they might have came out free also. but i’m happy one less on the street of the city.
LETS TAKE BACK BELIZE FOR BELIZEANS. GET RID OF THE BAD APPLES BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY AND TAKE ALONG THE ONES (LAWYERS) THAT ARE PROTECTING THEM.
WE NEED TO FORM A GROUP TO EXTERMINATE THOSE RODENTS THATS CAUSING HAVOC IN THE COMMUNITY. PLEASE MR PM DO YOUR JOB OR ELSE IT MIGHT JUST BE U NEXT.
Ha, no loss here! they should let the rats eat him up and the others ( so call bad …) will get the message. Don’t they get it? all bad man dead or in jail for life and that the way it should be.
Why was this so called Gangster’s Sister even a member of the jury.This case would have automatically lead to a mistrial.This smells like fish to me.
What raises an eyebrow to me is that ssg is responsible for shooting rodwell williams. trapp was the one to get the contract hit and passed it to one of his soldiers. now all of a sudden he is gunned down. how did these killers know he had a court date? everything leads back to the police. Jefferies told trapp earlier this year he couldnt wait for him to die and that it was near his time. thats cold for the commissioner to say. i just want belize to know that trapps death was mainly because of what they did to rodwell williams.
but he was a sore in society and he killed so his just rewards is what he got and its what he deserved. now belize is a lil safer.
plz dont take ur eyes off the dirty police of belize.
see me yah catwoman… how can i be a juror?? who finds them and who select them??
I have been a long time resident of the yabra community. I’ve watched andre grow up from a little boy and i must say it’s sad that a young life has gone to waste. His parents played an inportant role in what he became in life. Mothers are always suppose to protect their children from harm. In this case she thought all her children to sell drugs from grade school years; andre in yabra and the other set in dangriga. She was able to secure a u.s. visa and migrated to Los Angeles where andre was left to run things in the community. Only God know’s how many people got killed by him and his followers. It’s left to see if she will return to continue to reign. My hope is that mr. Jeffries will not let her into that police dept again. We need positive people to help these young people become productive citizens. Start holding parents responsible for students who don’t go to school. That’s a big problem in this particular neigbourhood. Secondly, residents of this community must first want good for themselves. Stop hiding weapons, and drugs for them you are a big part of the problem. Get rid of those bushes behind lodge hall, it’s a haven for hiding their drugs and weapons. Government please donate sand and fill it up they will have to find another hiding spot. Drugs, guns are stored in the neighbors houses and yard that’s why when u do your searches u end up empty. Not everyone in yabra is bad and they are people who are willing to help the police but which ones can we trust. Lastly, most people are looking at this death as a blessing; yes i bad man gone. No my people let’s try and show the others that are still alive that it’s not worth dying for. Whoever picks up the reign u will die the same way or worst. Look for better things, seek God, Jesus is your only hope. My people wake up. How many more have to die?
Belize City—criminals just don’t rob us of our possessions, but our freedom of movement as well. When was the last time families were able to go window shopping on Albert street at nights, give us back that freedom; it is our right to do so.
Well, Andre Trapp is Finally DEAD! I don’t feel sorry for him at all, he has caused alot of family pain including mines, the world is a cycle…I hope he saw the faces of every person he has ever hurt before he took his last breathe. He got gunned down in broad day light on a very busy street…I feel sorry for his parents tho for their loss bc despite his character his was somebody’s love one. I guess they will feel the pain my grandmother felt when their son decided to take my uncle’s life over a year ago. One less idiot on the street, I say!
I can’t begin to comprehend how a relative is a JUROR in a murder trial. Poeple talk and the media put it out there about arraignment date, so his enemies had suffiecient time to standby for the appointed time to fire shots. I am not sad he died, the 2d in command of the gang will take over. It is a promotion system for them. Just go to war between all you gangs and kill yourselves and return BELIZE TO THE PEACEFUL HAVEN IT ONCE WAS. AMEN, AMEN!
It’s a shame what Belize has come to. My last trip home was last year 2009, and I don’t think I will be coming back anytime soon. I have been away for 25 years and every year take a vacation home; now I can’t even walk the street and be safe. They need to take back the streets, hanging, harsh punishments for these horrible crimes being committed…….Ms. NY
it should be against the law for the belize dogggg force to just burst inna the man house without a warrant belize needs new laws. isnt this trevor trapps brother???
now this is why the ones that do the crime always get out an be back on the streets becoz belize don’t know how to make they law right, how the hell u gonna have the sister of a defendant be apart of the jury,i think belize law authorithies need to be train all over,maybe england need to step in an do something becoz that place is gonna end up being just like jamaica an other country that can’t be control they people.it’s a shame an i being a belizean is scared of being in the city when im there so if the law need to be change by stricker punishment then by all means they need to start doing that like yesterday.
I live on SSG and i can say that his death was order ……., some one in the Police department told the killers when was his court date. well i can say that SSG has s lot of members, ruthless killers. It’s only a matter of time before a next power house SSG leader emerged. The Police once told him that if someone didn’t kill him, they was going to do it them self….( MY BELIZEAN PEOPLE, BE PREPARED FOr A WAR)
Not so sure about the truth in the “one dead, less on the streets” theory.
Sometimes one killing breeds more criminals.
Trapp’s following might see an increase in recruitment this year.
When you hear about these shootings for us abroad it gives us the creeps. But we are Belizeans so nothing will stop us from coming home.
At SSG 4 Life, you breed no fear into anyone because this world is a cycle. Kill and get away with it today but you live with that fear forever in your heart. Don’t use this chat board to preach your hatred and disrespect for life. It is not the society fault that your parents did not bring you up with love and respect for others. Parents are to be BLAMED. BLAMED for a lot of things. Trapp and any other gangster out there do not think about the burden they put on their family when they choose that gangster life. They bought that upon themselves and their families…having police barge in on their children and relatives. If they didn’t choose this path of life, Police would go about their own business…..so no blame Police or society for their poor choice.
Its sad when parents, especially mothers, can’t be an example to their children. Poverty is no excuse …..parents need to be responsible for their children action. When your children wrong they wrong…..teach them from very early age to accept responsibility for their actions and they will learn to respect others.
I grew up in that same faber’s road area and with my parents help in educating their children, we are productive citizen living productive and respected lives. No EXCUSES. Each individual choose the path they want to follow in life…..u choose! Some parents know the neighbourhood BAD and yet they don’t move away and try to find a better place for their children. YOU are to be blamed PARENTS!
They need to check out the reggae street area by the sea side where they are selling al the drugs and hide the guns them. target all them areas .
Only God can judge him……….. We can’t get justice from MAN!!!!!!
I agree with BM…Parents are to blamed, as for SSG for life, ppl like you give all south side residence a bad name, one bad apple spoils the bunch…so go ahead and prepare for war, I will hope and pray for you…if u live by the gun den be prepared to DIE by the gun…Have you learned nothing about the gang world you live him? Everybody is dead!, Tupac said it best, “Cuz I always gotta worry bout the payback, some punk that i roughed out way back” I hope ur saving money for your funeral since ur getting ready for war…don’t let dat money come out of ur parent’s pocket for ur stupidity. Pure ignorance!
SSG 4 LIFE you could stay there talking that hate and inciting violence. Nobody deh wid you bredda and Belizeans will stand firm against your gang foolishness. After all I am a Belizean just as much as you and I have a right to live peacfully in my country. You are stupid and need to get a job and stop your gangbanging.
INTERESTING comments by the Belizean people. How many years and what were the conditions that caused this to be the end results in the Country of Belize. It didn’t happen over night. I’m sure it took a lot of shifty people in high places and down to the very lowest places in socitey for the now present end results to appear as an everyday way life. Study your own history and back ground then try to straighten it out, starting at the top. Or let England come back in and use outside people with no interest in the street gangs and drugs or high society and clean house from the bottom right up to the top, and do it fast. From the outside world it looks like there are way to may people that don’t really want change, because they are lining there own pockets with bad money before things change or the all out civil war starts.
It’s appointed unto man, once to die and after that the judgement…decide to live for God NOW…it will only take a second to trigger a gun. Take the time now. Will you?
he takes others life, so d world is round……………….
Guys I made some inquiries. Trapp went to court. He was spotted my members of the George Street Gang who were also at court. As I understand it the order was then given for him to be killed and the rest is history. I must come in agreement with Street Justice, Belizean First and others. This gangster was responsibly for the death of number of persons, either directly or indirectly. The family as the mourn their lost must think about the many families that are still suffering as a result of his actions. As was mentioned earlier, some of the blame for how Andre turned out must fall on the parents. His mother, before going to the states was known to selling drugs in the area. I can remember and I think Channels 5 & 7 and go into their archives and finds stories they covered when his mom would make all this fuss about her house being searched. One correction guys. He appeared in Magistrate court and his sister was a juror and a separate matter in the supreme court. However, I do identify with the concerns of her being on the jury. As to you SS $ Life, my advice, to you is change your life before it is too late.
Well said BM, I totally agree with you…..PARENTS SHOULD TAKE BETTER RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE CHILDREN & YOUTH…..THE WOMEN ARE JUST AS BAD AS THE MEN BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHILDREN BY MEN WHO THEY KNOW ARE COLD BLOODED KILLERS, SOME OF THEM ARE ALSO STEP FATHERS TO THEIR WOMEN’S CHILDREN….I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN A BIRHTDAY PARTY (IN BELIZE CITY) FOR A CHILD, WHERE ALL THE LITTLE BOYS WHO ATTENDED WORE A CERTAIN COLOR T SHIRT, WHICH REPRESENTS THE GANG THAT CONTROLS THE AREA WHERE THIS PARTY WAS HELD.
THESE PPL DON’T DESERVE THE HONOR OF BEING PARENTS. ALSO TO BLAME ARE SOCIETY, SCHOOL, THE CHURCH, THE COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNMENT …SEEMS LIKE THE MORE ADVANCE WE GET, THE MORE CORRUPT WE BECOME….VALUES AND DISCIPLINE ARE NOT THE NORM….WHAT WAS CONSIDERED BAD IS NOW GOOD, FOR TOO MANY PPL…AND THINGS JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE!!!!
i really don’t feel sorry for people like him, they get exactly what they deserve. all bad man have to fall.
i seh….leff deh eediat mek deh kill out dehself….deh di do the law abiding citizens of belize wah big faava…..plus…mo gyal fi me!!! man a gallis!!! ya heard!!!
Where is Chester Williams when you need him? There’s a thing about crime control where fear mixed with respect is felt for the law and the representatives of the law. Unfortunately, and it is understood, that it wasn’t politically expedient to keep Chester Williams in the same position in the Police Force. Understood – but perhaps this may be the time to reconsider! Review the record. While he was in a position to make a difference – he did. Convictions were a little lower but his arrest record was impeccable and he and his methods served as a sort of deterrent. Ask some of the OGs – they’ll tell the gatekeepers and the powers the same thing.
First of all you all need to get your facts straight. Andre never had a sister serving jurory duty. I will never say that i dont know what the hell happen to him or other youths in the country. This is bigger than Andre how about the ……., The Police the high people? All the granades the gun? when i was a child even when you see police with guns it was a big issue. now as a child born they know how to shoot. If police like….. could rape & get back his job then you’ll talk about Andre? ……r told Andre he will get him so he did. yes Andre is dead. how about that poor child that he pay to do his dirty works. words goes around. nobody knows its a woman police’s son was paid to kill him. As i said before i love my nephew very much but i spoke to him, i told him a million times to leave from there but i guess no young people want to get old now a days. If the minister who suppose to look after the country are fighing with each others. its a shame how my sweet little belize the country i love so much turn in war zone. Andre neva have no sista in jurory duty infact none of them ever serve as a juror. so get your facts straight. dont worry about the dead worry about the living. the system is corrupted. thats why nothing solve. atleast he went to rest our heart is at ease, but thats not the end of crimes over there.
I would like to clarify some important missed points: the front of any building is where the main entrance is, hence the front of the Magistrate’s courts is facing the Belize City flagstaff and that is where all interested parties’ gathers in small groups, including the police. The magistrate’s court number and the Names of defendants are posted on a notice board on the lower verandah for the general public to see. So, there is nothing dubious about where a particular individual case will be heard. “The person was shot in the parking lot behind the court.”. The now popular belief that it was a police set-up is a myth. It was public knowledge. Come on guys, stop making this more complicated than it is.
I was born and raised in Yabra, not too far from where Andre and his family lived..I migrated to the You.S. Ten years ago..and I am afraid to visit my own neighborhood..I would love to take my daughter and give her a tour of my childhood..show her where I use to go swim..show her the field I use to play in ..show her the yards I use to play in..now..that hope is faded.i’m now worried about being raped robbed or shot for my belongings in my oown damm neighborhood! Weh happen yabra..I remember when I use to love my my hood..now i’m ashamed,disgusted and afraid..guess when I return i’ll be like he tourists and visits the ritzy spots and pretend as if i’m not a …. yabra ghost.
KARMA….. It’s Real!!!
people lets just pray for them, they need to know God. he is the only one that can help in this situation. they are living by the gun so they will die by the gun. i am only sorry when innocent people get between. i just have a good feeling that one day our streets will be back to normal.
belize is still blessed .and every disappointment is for the better .jah bless
His sister was a juror in another case! The court, that she was in, was adjudicating on an entirely different matter! She was a juror for the murder trial of Keon Myvett Williams and not a juror for her brother’s case *rolls eyes*
All i can say is OMG!
May God Bless his parents:(
to Mr. Trapp family you feel how other family feel now. Mr. ….. told him that he wanted to see him dead but mr …. is a friend to Mr. Trapp good friend Pc. ….. and who is friend to …… and who his a friend to Darren Banks. I hope now Delmar Moguel gets the message he will be next very soon. Mr. Trapp, Delmar Moguel, Darren Banks brouth grief to many family. Mr trapp brought grief to Ervin James Family, he brought grief to Mr. Rodwell Williams family. Delmar Moguel brought grief to Anthony Roaches family which he soak in acid, Belly Family . Darren Banks brought grief to George Mckenzie a.k.a Junie Balls family, brought grief to the family of those injured in the grenade attack on may flower st. and so many other family. the three goals were to bring George St. With the help of …… and ….. but Trapp plans failed by letting his soldiers shoot Mr Williams and then George St. got the hit on him if we only know who had put the hit out on Trapp maybe it could of been Mr. Williams good friend the ……….. we will never know. But one his dead out of the click of bandit so wath will happen to the other bandits will they die too lets ask George St. who still reign supreme on the streets of Belize City. Remember that Trapp ordered the killing of Pinky & Shiny Tillett Brother. thats all for now lets wait for the aftermat of death of the SSG gang leader lets see will die now
we are ready for the end to come..this makes no sense…i prefer God’s kingdom to this mess…may he rest in peace finally, something he certainly never learned in life
As I hve mentioned earlier it falls right back on parents,friends,neighbors,and passersby.No one seems to want to take the responsibility thats its our fault why the country is the way it is.for example u witnes a crime say something/do u think that they can kill the entire country for speaking up if they had that type of power belize would be renamed cuba.he became a drug and crime lord because the people allowed it to happen.do not depend on the government to do something when you as the people have the power you need. try to come together.I reside in Rochester,NY haven’t returned home in 16yrs will not return home until they clean up bze i can walk here without running for cover also i have kids and the lord know that if i ever return to bze and something happen to my kids i shall bring fort my own justice….In order for there to be peace we must want peace ourselves.The literacy rate for BELIZE IS 94%.IT’S TIME WE START ACTING LIKE WE’VE EARNED THAT RANK.EVIDENTLY IT’S THE LAST 6% OF ILLITERATES THATS RUNNING THE COUNTRY…………………….