Eight year old murder victim laid to rest
Eight year old Marquise Mahler was laid to rest today. It was an emotional funeral for family, friends and the community. The child did not live to finish primary school; he was gunned down last Friday on Faber’s Road and died the following day. His murder is signaling the hideous lows to which crime has plunged. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports from the funeral.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The somber atmosphere at St. John’s Cathedral this afternoon served as a stark reminder that no family is exempt from the current scourge of crime plaguing the Old Capital. Today, another mother and father mourned the loss of a loved one who fell victim to gun violence over the weekend. Delia Lewis and her common law husband Theodore Mahler were both tearful as they comforted each other knowing that the life of their eight year-old son was dramatically cut short as a result of the carnage that is gripping Belize City’s south side.
A few days ago eight year old Marquise Alvin Mahler was ruthlessly cut down in a hail of bullets that some say were intended for someone else who was in the family yard at the time of the shooting. His murder has eclipsed that of forty-eight year old Calvin Graham who was also killed in the gunfire. The death of little Marquise however, has angered the Belizean public as this primary school student has become the youngest casualty of urban warfare.
Precelia Lewis, Cousin of Marquise Mahler
precalla lewis
“Alvin was a student of St. John Vianney R.C. School where he just completed standard two and was excited for the new school year to begin. His parents say that he was always willing to go to school seven days of the week as long as he has a shilling. His teachers always say that he’s a quiet little boy but very bright.”
As his eulogy was being read grandmother Marie Lewis stared emotionless, visibly spent from crying earlier during the service. Sitting inside the cathedral one could not help but reflect on the current state of our beloved city, a community that has sunken to an all-time low where it concerns crime and violence. It’s a sentiment that the school’s principal Felix Sutherland echoes loudly.
felix sutherland
Felix Sutherland, Principal, St. John’s Vianney Primary School
“The loss of any young person is a great loss to Belize. The loss of Marquise is a great loss to Port Loyola and to St. John Vianney School. Just the morning before his death I spoke to Marquise passing through Baldwin Street so, and he was a very bright child, a very disciplined child so it is indeed extremely painful to know that we have lost Marquise at such a tender age. As a result of the crime situation we have had to adjust our school schedule this year so as to try to minimize the incidence of our children being shot. During the last school year I was rerouted three times, twice in one day because of dead bodies in the street. At the end of April while we were having mass someone was killed right beside our fence so it is indeed extremely, extremely crazy. I don’t know the solution but I am hopeful that together, collectively the nation of Belize could find the solution and find the solution quickly.”
Former superintendent of the Belize Central Prison and member of the newly formed Belizeans for Justice Bernard Adolphus, says it is time to put words to action and that the relevant authorities need to be more proactive in addressing the crime situation.
Bernard Adolphus, Member, Belizeans for Justice
bernard adolphus
“We suppose to stop talk now and we expect the government and other officials to take some action, particularly the courts. That’s my view on the whole thing because it’s senseless. It is a senseless death where I am concerned, you know, what kind of beef? This is no beef you understand me, this is a child, you see what I mean. So I am hoping that things will work out and I am hoping that Restore Belize and the Government of Belize will put some, some plan of action in to stop nonsense such as this.”
The homily delivered by Canon Leroy Flowers during the service resounded in an opinion shared by Oscar Rosado Jr.
Oscar Rosado Jr., Family Friend
“Today we bury the conscience of our nation and he’s asking where are the souls of Belize. Everybody stand up, it’s knocking on doors of your neighbors, your families. You never expect it to come to your door but it’s time to wake up.”
At the conclusion of the service the pallbearers consisting of family members carried Marquise’s casket to a waiting vehicle as an emotional Delia Lewis and her mother Marie came to grips with their newfound reality, their innocent son and grandson has become another statistic in Belize City’s ever-growing crime rate. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
The news media need to stop calling these evil, blatant criminal actvities” Urban warfare” These are plain and simple cowardly evil criminal activities. By calling these activities urban warfare you are playing into the hands of the criminals thus validating these acts, as acts of war. Who are they at war with the helpless victims. Lets stop this nonsense of validating criminal activities, call a spade, a spade.
8 year old murder victim……. It’s a SAD DAY, a really sad day when little children are murder victims. I hope that the killers are proud of themselves. REMEMBER…… GOD IS NOT SLEEPING.
Marquise is now in a better place.
R.I.P.
It’s a shame what this little kid went through.Whosoever took this kid’s life got it coming.God noh sleep.RIP Marquise you’re in a better place than the idiot that took your life.
The only solution to all the crimes being committed is to start HANGING criminals.You kill you die.That is the only way,you put them in prison years later they come out and kill again.That doesn’t work,prison cells are full to capacity so we have to re enforce this .Either Hang ,or spend their lives in prison.
R.I.P. BABY MARQUIS, DEEP FELT CONDOLENCES TO THE GREIVING FAMILY.
my heartfelt condolences to the family. He was just a baby, R.I.P.
We have to make sure that his short life is a big lesson to ALL OF US. He did not die in vain!!!
R.I.p my beautiful angel
Jesus said” the kingdom of God belong to the little children” Marquise is in a better place.
what a punishment for the one that took marquise life, God say Vengeance is mine, sooner or later he will end up in hell where he belong, for it is written.
To the family I pray for God peace and comfort at this time.
RIP! u are in heaven and the person who killed you, let him feel for it and die in hell..
r.ip. little belizean brother, it’s heart breaking that you left us for the brutal acts of some sobs that i wish they should have never been born in this world. my condolence to the family, let the Lord almighty bring justice over the killers and make them die the same way since what goes around comes aorund.
Jesus also said:- “What you do to the least of them… you do unto me.”
senseless ridiculus what else can i say i am a mother and i feel for this baby family he is in a better place although we prefer him with us, to the killer you deserves to be hang.I was in Belize city on July 3 and for the first time i saw 4 shot victims on Santa barbara street what a shame and when the police got there they came with flash lights that is not enough they got there quick but how much light can a flash light give ,the police needs better equiptments and some heavy duty spot lights,god help me so i can win the lotto so i can donate some needed equiptments to my country.
R.I.P. BABY MARQUIS UR GONE BUT WILL NEVER BEFORGETTEN
Marquise was not a relative of mine, but every time I am reminded about him, tears come to my eyes. You can imagine how his parents, other relatives, teachers, and friends are feeling at this time. I believe that whoever killed this innocent child will die a very painful death. The killer’s day is coming and it might be very soon. God is not asleep.
These criminal don’t believe in God, it seems to me that God has disappeared out of Belize. Our country was never like this. Where is the Belize of the sixties, seems like all the Government cares about is filling their pockets, which ever one is in power. This is where the problem lies. Whenever the people in power starts caring about the country and its people a change will come. Always remember corruption breeds crime, “Hang em high”.
SAD…SAD…SAD…SAD I felt it for this poor lil baby boy..i don’t kno the lil boy or his parents but as a warm hearted Belizean citizen i did kno wat to do when i was watching this news here? if i shud cry or continue to watch it?…but the Sadness was all ova throughout news and i will always remember this..may his lil tiny soul Rest In Peace.
Parents don’t put your children lives at risk. sadly the young boy was in the wrong place at the wrong time. i know his murderer is a guilty man right now