Three persons shot: 9 yr old girl, 22 yr old woman and 16 yr old boy

elodio aragon

Aside from the two murders reported earlier in our newscast, there was more violence in the old capital over the weekend. On Saturday night, bullets from opposing gangs injured nine year old Crystal Faber, sixteen year old Juan Carlos Martinez and twenty-two year old Nathalie McKenzie. One was shopping and the two others were at home when they were hit by the gunfire. News Five’s Jose Sanchez has a report.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

They say if you stand for too long near East Canal and South Street you are bound to catch a bullet. The building that houses the Belize National Tourist Guide Association Headquarters is riddled with bullets after a shooting on Saturday night.  Rival groups met up and fired shots that penetrated at least three buildings and caught three individuals on separate ends of the canal side.  Sixteen year old Juan Carlos Martinez was shot in his abdomen.

Voice of: Juan Carlos Martinez

“I gone buy a coke like seven-ten around the chiney. I run, but when I see pan mi stomach, I get shot. So I bend down on the street. And when I see police mi di come, tell them ah wah go da the hospital. When I gone dah hospital, weh happen to me, the bullet gone through no touch no organs. Just get a bandage and thing. I no hear nothing. I had an MP4 on my head. And I no hear nothing. When I tek one headphone from mi ears, then I hear the last gunshot. When I feel a little hot pan my stomach and I see blood on my stomach.”

Jose Sanchez

“Do you feel afraid in your line of work as a vendor?”

Juan Carlos Martinez

“No I noh think so because I no have no problem with nobody. I work honest. I noh think so they wah come kill me for nothing. I noh see nobody, I noh know nobody.”

A twenty-two year old female was caught by a stray bullet inside her home and a nine year old student was hit in her foot.  Newly installed Officer Commanding the Eastern Division, Elodio Aragon, says he needs the public to solve crime.

Asst. Commissioner Elodio Aragon, Officer Commanding Eastern Division

“We must bear on the intelligence arm of the police department to assist us in that but likewise the public. The public plays an important role and we must stand up. I know people might be intimidated out there and are afraid to come forth. But there are ways and means that they can assist us with information. You have the Crime stoppers hotline. They could call and its an anonymous way  and form to get us the information we need to execute the job on the ground. So I am asking the general public, be not afraid. Assist us, give us information whether it be crime stoppers or otherwise. Let us know so we can effect the job and assist in dealing with the crime problem because the police department we are being paid to do a job and we will continue to do our job. The important thing right now as O.C.E.D. is that I want to ensure that every police officer on the beat is putting in their effort. And if everybody puts in their effort, we will have a more effective police department.”

Jose Sanchez

“There are normally a lot of shootings in the area; does it make you more concerned about stray bullets?”

Juan Carlos Martinez

“Sometime they come shoot, but we see nothing. Sometimes we go straight inside, we no see nothing like that.”

Jose Sanchez

“How soon do you see yourself back on the streets working again?”

Juan Carlos Martinez

“I noh know, like maybe two weeks, three weeks. Depends on if I go to the doctor everyday for dressing.”

Life, including bullet riddled windows, are all part of the norm in Zone four.  Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.