Security Guard Murdered While Working Night Shift

On Tuesday, a state of emergency was declared to control the rise in violent, gang-related crimes.  It is the second S.O.E. to be enacted within the past six months. A few hours later, an on-duty security guard was murdered at Sadie Vernon High School. Twenty-eight-year-old Kadeem Babb was working the night shift when his security booth came under attack by gunfire, killing him. We spoke with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, who said that although the attack was targeted at Babb, it was not the result of gang activity. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with more information. 

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

There’s been another murder in Belize City and this time it happened on the grounds of Sadie Vernon High School in Saint Martin De Porres. The latest victim of the surge in violent crimes is twenty-eight-year-old Kadeem Babb, who was working the night shift at the school’s security booth. Debroah Martin is the principal of Sadie Vernon High School.

 

Debroah Martin, Principal, Sadie Vernon High School

“I received a call and some text messages this morning that the boot was locked and the employees of the school were unable to enter. Usually, we have twenty-four hours in security services or watchmen on duty. And when my employees tried to get in the compound this morning as early as seven o’clock, they were not able to come. And so that sent an alarm when they were healing for the watchman on duty, and there was no response. So what happened was that they looked around the boot area and they noted that on one of the window blinds there were a bullet, there was a bullet hole or more than one. And that called, them to action. And so eventually my office assistant jumped the fence and came on the compound. We had to get a hammer to open the door so that they could enter to see what had happened. And they found him in there lying down.”

 

The murder comes just a few hours after the enactment of Belize’s second state of emergency this year. However, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams maintains that this crime was not committed in relation to the recent surge in gang activity, but rather, it stemmed from a personal issue.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“From what we have been made to understand is that there may have been some issue. Between the security guard and another individual, which is not gang related, because I already see some comments stating that, oh, we have S.O.E. and this is happening, but the murder is not gang related. And the police have obtained surveillance footage from the school. We’re viewing those footages now and hopefully we’ll be able to identify who the individual is and should be able to make an arrest.”

 

 

 

Martin says that the employee’s death shocked and saddened her. Babb had been working at the school for three years and she didn’t know him to get into serious conflicts with anyone.

 

Debroah Martin

“He started in 2021 and he’s friendly, outgoing.  You will know that he’s on the compound when he’s here. Always helpful. Knows how to put smile on your face. That’s the kind of person. I know he’s outspoken, so he will stand up for anybody, to anybody who comes his way or stand up for anybody that he thinks that somebody is taking advantage of. So I don’t know of any issue with anybody, but I know he’s somebody that is going to stand up for himself and for others. I don’t know of any previous issue with him and anybody that may have resulted in this.”

 

In reaction to Babb’s death, community members have expressed frustration that the murder occurred relatively close to a police station. ComPol Williams says that despite this, there was no way for the officers stationed there to know that the crime was going to occur.

 

 

 

Chester Williams

“It’s not a stone’s throw away from the police station, as some media hosts have reported. It is still quite a distance from the police station. And yes, as I said before, we do have police officers in the Martin’s area working, but the police officers have to move around. They cannot stay in one given area, and criminals will take advantage of whatever opportunity they may have. And the fact that it was not, it is not something gang motivated. You have an issue with somebody, you go after the person where the person works. I don’t see how it is going to be possible for the police to be able to deter that from happening, unless the police would have had prior knowledge that there was some issue between him and this individual and this person would have been going after him to do him something.”

 

Williams further countered speculation that the murder was in connection to a shooting that occurred on Sunday that led to the injury of Joshua Gillett and the death of Stanley Moore.

 

Chester Williams

“I wouldn’t say it’s the same location. It may be the same street, but quite a distance away. The Sadie Vernon High School is a little way up more into that street.”

 

 

 

Reporter

“No chance that he was a witness or I’m asking, might he have been a witness?”

 

Chester Williams

“No.”

 

Williams said that although there has been an increase in violent crimes, the police have been working diligently towards making an arrest and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

 

Chester Williams

“I must say that the past the last three murders we have had we have made arresting all three of them. And it goes to show again that the police is doing as best as we can to be able to investigate these murders and find the persons responsible and make sure they face the court system. I have no doubt that with this one, the same is going to be done.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.