Teenager charged with murder of younger boy

As a society we’ve come to accept the news of another murder on the streets of Belize City with frightening ease. But when the victim is only a child, even the jaded are reminded of the senseless violence that dominates our streets. News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin reports on the latest atrocity.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Fifteen year old Jomo Lamb was on this bicycle on Baracat Street when he shot several times. This blood stain marks the spot where it is believed the minor was hit at least five times around seven last night by someone riding in a heavily tinted vehicle. The killing occurred only a block away from his family’s house. Tonight the Lamb’s mother remains in shock over the way her teenager was gunned down.

Simona Bacab, Mother of Murder Victim
“No, no enemy with nobody; I could swear to that. People say you noh fi swear for your pickney, but I noh know bout my behalf. Jomo dah noh somebody who go around and mek trouble with nobody. Jomo friendly as he move yah, I tell him he have too much friends.”

Simona Bacab was not home at the time of the shooting, but other family members told her that Jomo had run inside the house and claimed that someone was chasing him. But minutes later, the boy was on the street again, heading to a nearby shop.

Jacqueline Godwin
“Did he ever say who was chasing him?”

Simona Bacab
“No, he did not tell my little girl nothing. And so I never know why he like never explain and tell my little girl because he is somebody who always like talk.”

Family members report that Jomo had made previous claims that someone had shot at him, but the minor would not say who was trying to kill him. While police are calling the incident a drive by shooting, Bacab believes the killer was waiting in the dark for her son.

Simona Bacab
“I say dah somebody weh know ah killed ah. Because if he mi deh dah Chiney di buy and dah by Baracat they meet him, that means they call ah, somebody he know call ah, because he noh going just like that.”

“It look like they mi di wait for ah underneath a house bottom, so they call ah the person must mi deh right there waiting for ah. Because like he mi di rumble with the person because he get five shots: he get one yah, one dah middle, one dah side, and two inna his lungs. That dah weh puncture his lungs because he mi di bleed. And he get like three scrapes like when they mi di rumble on the ground, like they mi di fight.”

Police have yet to publicly declare a motive, but News Five sources suggest the murder is connected to Monday night’s shooting of three neighbours: twenty-six year old Sigmund Trapp, nineteen year old Akeem Welch and ten year old Ashton Welch. A fourteen year old primary school student was later arrested for that crime.

Simona Bacab
“Well that dah my belief. I noh know what report people di seh, but that dah my belief. That dah my belief.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“Why you strongly believe this?”

Simona Bacab
“Because I lately live here, in January this year yah, not even a good four months and Jomo dah somebody friendly and from he come live ‘round yah that dah the company he start to hang out with, you know. I noh wah seh I di swear for ah, I noh know weh he do behind my back, but they dah di friends he heng with.”

According to Bacab, the only brush her son had with the law was one week ago when he was arrested for drug possession. She had pleaded to a Family Court judge not send Jomo to the Youth Hostel.

Simona Bacab
“And the judge the say Miss Bacab, the only reason why I would want to send Jomo is to prevent from either they kill Jomo or either somebody end up di get dead or Jomo kill somebody or get into another problem.”

“And the judge said Miss Bacab, I am only considering you due of the prosecutor—because she mi lenient pan me—but dah fi mi better off fi Jomo, that dah weh the judge tell me. And inna my heart I swear believe, I say inna my mind, I shoulda let ah mek ih do it.”

Out on bail, the teenager had an eight p.m. curfew and was ordered to stay out of trouble and enter a youth programme by April thirtieth. Bacab says today she and son had planned to enrol in a Youth for the Future programme. Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.