2 women are injured in separate shootings in San Pedro

Luis Castellanos

Three persons, including two women, were injured in two separate shootings over the weekend in San Pedro where crime is spiking. The first incident occurred after three on Saturday morning in the San Pablo Area of the prime tourism island. Seventeen year old Irma Mejia was shot multiple times: to the abdomen, jaw and thumb after two men reportedly fired shots through her front door. Mejia was rushed to the San Pedro Polyclinic and then transported to the K.H.M.H via Wings of Hope in a critical, but stable condition. Two men have been detained in connection with this shooting. In the second shooting a mother and son were injured. Forty-five year old Aurora Gonzalez and her son, twenty-three year old Nigel Polanco were shot to the thighs by a sixteen year old with whom Polanco had a long standing disagreement. Polanco and Gonzalez were hanging out with others in front of their house when they heard the sound of a gunshot. They were taken to the San Pedro Polyclinic for medical treatment before being brought to the K.H.M.H.  News Five spoke with Officer Commanding San Pedro Police, Superintendent Luis Castellanos about the incident.

Via Phone: Supt. Luis Castellanos, O.C., San Pedro Police

“About eleven p.m. last night, the quick response team of the San Pedro police visited the San Pedrito Area where they met Nigel Polanco, twenty-three year old Belizean construction worker of a San Pedrito address who had injuries to the left leg above the knee. Also his mother, Aurora Gonzalez, forty-five year old Belizean self-employed of San Pedrito area was also seen suffering from what appeared to be gunshot injuries to her left leg also above the left knee. She also had injuries on her left middle finger. Initial investigations reveal that Nigel Polanco and his mother, Aurora Gonzalez, were outside their residence socializing when an individual fired the shot at them hence receiving the said injuries. They were both transported to the polyclinic and then further transported to Belize City for further medical treatment. Their injuries are not life threatening. We have a suspect, who we want at the moment. He is a minor so I won’t be releasing his name; he is on the run at the moment. And I also like to say that the suspect mother works with us and she is cooperating in trying to locate her son and have him surrender.”

Duane Moody

“Sir, a motive for this crime?”

Via Phone: Supt. Luis Castellanos

“The motive would appear that this is a long time dispute between both families. He is still on the island. We understand that he is probably up the north coast or he may be in town. He is frightened and we have assured the mother that we will give her the time to try to locate her son and have him surrender.”

Police have recovered two point thirty-eight expended shells and a live shotgun cartridge from both scenes.