Man Dead, Woman Injured in Belize City Shooting; Police Brace for Retaliation

Stephan Bowen & Shenece Williams

In crime news, a resident of Tigris Street in Belize City was shot and killed on Tuesday night.  That shooting has also left a woman from George Street in the hospital.  Today, police were tightlipped about the details and didn’t disclose a motive, but they say they are prepared for any retaliation.  News Five’s Andrea Polanco reports.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Twenty-year-old Stephan Bowen was shot and killed as he stood on Plues Street in Belize City around eight o’clock on Tuesday night. Reports are that Bowen was hanging out in a crowd. Nineteen-year-old Shenece Williams was also in the immediate area. She sustained gunshot injuries and is hospitalized.

Fitzroy Yearwood

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“So far police have confirmed that yes Stephan Bowen was standing on Plues Street talking with some friends when they were approached by a lone person on bicycle that opened fire in their direction.  Mr. Bowen was shot and he was transported to KHMH and succumbed around eleven fifty last night whilst undergoing treatment. Ms Williams was also transported to the KHMH and is listed in a stable but serious condition.”

Andrea Polanco

“Were those two friends?”

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“Well, from what we have gathered so far yes they were friends and they were talking along with other people, not only the two of them.”

Andrea Polanco

“It was a group out there, are you able to say if Bowen was the intended target?”

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“That we cannot answer at this moment.”

Police say they are yet to confirm what led to this deadly attack.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“At this moment we do not have a known motive for this shooting, now known to be a murder, but hopefully our investigators who are still out there on the grounds might come up with a theory very soon for us.”

Andrea Polanco

“Sir, is there anything related to, perhaps, some rivalry between gang groups in that area? Do you know if that is something ongoing at this moment?”

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“What I can tell you is that it is very strange when you hear that shooting happen in this area so we are examining every angle, whether it is retaliating groups or whether it is from friends’ gone sour we do not know at this time.”

Chester Williams

But now police are looking at possible retaliation as a result of this latest shooting. Shooting victim Shenece Williams of George Street is the sister of Gerald Tillett Junior who was gunned down back in May – both are the children of murdered gang leader Gerald ‘Shiny’ Tillett. Commissioner Chester Williams sounded an early warning to the gangs.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We do have things in place to mitigate any retaliation. But let me say that the George Street. Wagner’s Lane, Mayflower and the Banak crowd – they will get what they are looking for very shortly.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.

The Bowen family declined comment today.