Teen stabbed on Orange Street
They say secrecy among friends is bad manners, but drinking among friends can be much worse. Such was the case today when an early morning incident among drinking men ended up almost fatal on one of Belize City’s busiest arteries. It happened on Orange Street and has left a teenager clinging to life. Marion Ali reports.
There are still conflicting reports as to what exactly triggered the stabbing that left seventeen year old Conrad Guzman Montes in a critical condition. His friend, Ian Gentle, says he saw the whole thing and that it started from a Chinese shop at the corner of Orange and West Streets. Gentle says the youth intended to rob an elderly person.
Ian Gentle, Witnessed Stabbing
“Young bway mi nice up and young bwai mi mean fi push ahn eena wahn corner. Well he mi want rob di man then. Ih tell ah give mi everything weh yoh got eena yo pocket or I wah kill. And he pushed the man and then the man push he and the man took out the knife and jook ah dah ih heart.”
News Five spoke with two other persons who saw Guzman Montes shortly after he was stabbed.
Maria Hernandez, co-owner, Rosado’s Tortilla Factory
“I came out here about seven thirty and that’s when I saw him, I saw the man down on his face. Before he drop I saw blood on his shirt. I saw blood and then I know that he was stabbed and then he fell and he didn’t get up.”
Jose Martinez, Owner, Nancy’s Jewelry
“All of them were just drinking together.”
Marion Ali
“So it wasn’t an argument or a fight?”
Jose Martinez
“It wasn’t an argument or fight. So I don’t what’s the purpose, why he stabbed him, but I know all of them were drinking together in the front.”
Marion Ali
“The guy who did it, it is not the first time you saw him around here?”
Jose Martinez
“No, he drinks here every morning.”
Marion Ali
“But the guy who got stabbed it’s the first time you saw him?”
Jose Martinez
“It’s the first time I see him from here, yes.”
Police have detained sixty-three year old Gerald Westby, also known as “Scarface” in connection with the incident. Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
