The other shooting victims

Derek Cervantes remains hospitalized in a stable condition at Medical Associates Ltd, but nine other persons were injured in separate shooting incidents over the weekend. The urban warfare started late Friday afternoon on Neal Penn Road in south side Belize City.  Alton Roches and Kenroy Tillett were hit to various parts of their bodies. Six hours later, gun shots rang out yet again; this time at the corner of Orange Street and East Canal. In the aftermath of the shooting, three persons: forty-eight year old Wallace Donald Matura, twenty-six year old Carmita Chan and thirty-two year old Alchea Harris sustained gunshot wounds. But the intended target was Matura, who was hit to the abdomen, hands, left leg and testicles. Investigations reveal that Matura was in front of VIP Wireless at downtown Belize City when a lone gunman fired eight shots in his direction. Chan and Harris who were walking on Orange Street were caught in the shootings. While Harris was only grazed to the left hip, Chan was hit to the right side of her buttocks. News Five spoke to Chan who said that she was with her husband and two kids on their way to Albert Street when she was hit from behind. A relative passing at the same time of the incident took her to the hospital where she was treated and released.

Voice of: Carmita Chan, Shooting Victim

“I was going towards downtown with my husband and my two girls. I just suddenly hear a bang and my husband just grab my little daughter and told the older one to run. Same time I felt this burn in the right side of my buttocks. I touched it and I saw blood. I told my husband I get shot. He didn’t believe me at the moment and he told me let’s go run; but I collapsed. The same time I saw my cousin passing by and I told him to stop and rush me to the hospital. By the time I looked back, I only saw a dread guy on the floor.”

Duane Moody

“That’s while you were on the ground as well?”

Voice of: Carmita Chan

“Yes right on the corner by VIP wireless. I couldn’t even believe it because of the distance we were right.”

Duane Moody

“How many shots did you hear?”

Voice of: Carmita Chan

“Well I heard approximately about six. I still have the bullet inside; they haven’t removed it. They say it might come out by itself.”

Duane Moody

“Were you fearful for the fact that you kids were with you and maybe one of them could have gotten shot?”

Voice of: Carmita Chan

“Well yes I was. I was worried more about my older daughter because my younger one, my husband held her. So I said it more or less would have been the dad to get shot, but the older one I was very worried about because she was running. So I told her just throw yourself on the floor, I told her.”

Matura, remains in a stable condition at the K.H.M.H. This afternoon he issued a statement saying that he wished the media wouldn’t glorify his shooter and that instead the focus should be on the heroism of the nurses and doctors. At news time Roches has been discharged while Tillett recovers from surgery.