Why was Raheem Usher Granted a Gun License?

In late February, twenty-nine-year-old Raheem Usher was found handcuffed, wrapped in a sheet, and covered in plastic near the Rio Hondo River. The construction worker from Libertad village had been missing for over a month and was discovered with a cryptic message attached to his body. Police have dismissed rumors of cartel involvement in Usher’s death. However, given the targeted nature of the attack, questions have arisen about why Usher was allowed to possess a licensed gun. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams addressed this issue today.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“ Yes, he was a member of the Coast Guard and yes, he had a license firearm.”

 

Reporter

“Did you issue him the license?”

 

Chester Williams

“I cannot say, but if I did, he would have been a member of the security force.”

 

Reporter

“So, but Raheem Usher had a licensed firearm and Curtis Usher had a license firearm.”

 

Chester Williams

“We have discussed Curtis Usher before. You know I was not the one who issued that.”

 

Reporter

“Yeah, but I’m just saying that we’ve seen a family or persons in a family involved with narco elements from the north and they are licensed gun holders by the state.”

 

Chester Williams

“We have to be fair. Raheem Usher was a member of the Belize Coast Guard. He was a member of a security force. I am sure that when he entered the Coast Guard, there was no information of him being connected to any narco. If not, the Coast Guard would not have recruited him. And for me, when I was the licensing authority, any police officer be there for Coast Guard who applied for a license to hold a gun, so long as their vetting is clean, I would give it to them. Because I understand the risk that is associated with you being a member of the security force in this country. So It would not be a prudent thing for me to deny them license. I cannot speak to why Coast Guard parted ways with Raheem. I’m not the commander of Coast Guard. I think he can answer that question if you were to be asked. But certainly when he did get his firearm license, his betting was clean and he was a member of the Belize Coast Guard.”