6 shootings over 3 day weekend

Fitzroy Yearwood

The murder of eleven year old Daniel Matura clearly affected his community and parents across the country. But there were several other incidents that rocked Belize City over the weekend. Police Press Officer, Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood reviewed several incidents including the shooting of a shop assistant, forty year old, Irma Martinez at Martha’s Fast Food on Lacroix Street. Shortly after eight on Friday night, Police responded to the scene where they saw Martinez suffering from a gunshot wound to the left ear. Police reported that Martinez was working when a man approached the window and demanded that she open the shop door. Martinez refused and he pulled out a gun and fired four shots, one of which caused the injury. Yearwood says it doesn’t appear to be a robbery.

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

“Andrea, it wouldn’t suggest that it was robbery. We are investigating that shooting incident. The information that the investigators gathered is that she may have moved to find out something when she was accidentally shot. Regardless, it is a shooting incident and we are trying to get to the bottom of it. I will have information for you before news time.”

Andrea Polanco

“Any suspects at this time?”

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“Not as yet. Kenrick Sutherland, a forty-three year old, he’s a resident of corner Raccoon and Curassow Streets—that’s right up the street. All I can say is that when police visited the K.H.M.H., they saw him suffering from a gunshot wound to the right side of his abdomen. They are saying that the wound is entrance and exit—that the bullet passed through. The investigation revealed that sometime around eight o’clock, Sutherland was walking on Western Highway towards the direction of Belize City and upon reaching in front of the Belize Refrigeration Limited, he heard about three apparent gunshots and then he realized that he was injured. He tried to run but fell in that area. He was transported to the K.H.M.H. where he is still receiving treatment.”

Alden Dawson

Alden Dawson, Superintendent of Police

“As it relates to the robbery at the Bay View Oasis, the police responded to a robbery in progress and quick response as well, the police encountered a robbery in process where one of the robbers had a firearm. The police fired at that person to disarm him, catching the person in the shoulder; that person is hospitalized. Since then we have recovered all the items reported stolen or robbed from these persons. we have laid charges against three individuals in relations to that robber. Again we had the incident where Miss Middleton was shot in her home. She heard gunshot firing and she got up to alert her two kids and in the process, upon returning to her room, she claimed that she felt a burning and realized that she was shot to the neck. The injury is not serious; it is not, she is out of the hospital and recovering. Again, whenever I come to these forums, I always ask and continue to ask for the support of the public and of recently we have seen an increase where the support of the public is concerned. We had five murders for the month so far and from the five, we have partially solved four of these murders and that contribute to the direct assistance from the public. And I am sure that we could go on dealing with this matter and even preventing these matters and even preventing these incidents—especially murder—if the public continues to cooperate. We also are in the process of making an arrest in respect to the murder of Mister Requeña who was killed on Faber’s Road last month. That case is all wrapped up already, it is just a matter of making an arrest now and again it contributes to the public support.”

Three men were charged this morning in connection with the robbery at Oasis Bar, which is owned by businessman, Ricardo Marin. The accused men are twenty-six year old Kenroy Gillett, forty-six year old Hugh Espat and twenty year old Elmer Linarez. They were charged with six counts of Robbery for stealing cell phones and cash from Marin and five employees.  Espat, who drove the getaway vehicle, was additionally charged with Abetment to Commit Robbery and they were all remanded to prison until June twenty-ninth. Police caught the three men as they exited the business after the robbery. Linarez was injured in an exchange of gunfire with the cops. Almost all of the stolen items were recovered when the men were arrested. A fourth suspect, who is known to police, remains at large. This is not the first time that the establishment has been targeted.