At today’s police press briefing, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero provided an update on the murder of PC Anthony. Romero confirmed that Saturday night’s shooting is connected to a shooting incident that occurred on Friday night in the village. That night, two men on a motorcycle drove up to a group of individuals that were socializing in a yard and opened fire in their direction. Daniel Lopez was shot in the leg. He posted on Facebook, saying that he is not a gunman or a thief and that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. ACP Romero told us more.
“An investigation is being carried out into this report. We have several people in custody and are seeking other persons as well this time.”
Reporter
“Was he the intended target?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“The intelligence we are gathering is that it is a case of mistaken identity. But the person that was on the bridge firing the shots, he targeted the police officer who was on that motorcycle.”
Hipolito Novelo
“The people in custody and those being sought from the same community?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“Yes, they are from the same area of Roaring Creek.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Is one of those persons someone who was recently released from prison?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“I will not give the names of the persons detained at this time. We have several persons who we are looking for.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Not names, but someone who was recently released from prison.”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“Yes, that is a persons we are looking for yes.”
Hipolito Novelo
“You said it is a case of mistaken identity, but do you believe it was related to a prior shooting in Roaring Creek?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“Yes that is the information I have. It is related to a prior shooting that had occurred in the area.”
Hipolito Novelo
“This is the one related to Daniel Lopez who was shot.”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“That is correct yes.”
A.C.P. Romero says it is a tragic event and the department sends its condolences to the Anthony family and those who were close to him.
Police were placed on high alert following the murder of reformed gang member Elwin Lewis, who is also known as Ras Bobo. He was gunned down on Friday night in front of Gwen Liz High School on Antelope Street, just feet away from the school’s front entrance. Lewis was driving a motorcycle heading in the direction from Elston Kerr Street towards Central American Boulevard when he was shot dead by someone on another motorcycle heading in the opposite direction. He was an employee of the Leadership Intervention Unit. Today, News Five’s Marion Ali went looking for answers. Here’s that report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
When he sang against violence with Heights of Vibez several years ago, Elwin Lewis, better known as Ras Bobo, was a popular musical artist. But he had gotten in trouble with the law when he was charged with being a member of a gang and had been making strides to live the straight and narrow. He was enrolled in the Leadership Intervention Unit’s infrastructure project. But on Friday evening, just before five, he became a target for murder.
“On Friday, March 22nd, 2024, around 4.50 p.m., police responded to a shooting incident near the Gwen Liz High School. Upon their arrival, they found Elwyn Lewis, 43 years with gunshot injuries to the body. He was taken to the KHMH, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Thereafter, an investigation revealed that Lewis was riding a motorcycle in front of Gwen Liz when he was approached by another male person who fired several shots towards his direction, causing his fatal injuries.”
Dominique Noralez, who is the Director and Chairperson of the L.I.U, told reporters via Zoom this afternoon that she had seen Lewis just minutes earlier at the office.
Dominique Noralez
Dominique Noralez, Chairperson/Director, L.I.U.
“His murder hit me hard for very many reasons, but also it was more shocking because I saw him probably 30 minutes before it happened. He was in front of me. They were signing for their checks because it was payday on Friday and he signed for a check right in front of me and he asked me how I di do and we had a bit of small talk because check day is always very hectic. So he signed everything there and he gone and I got a message that he was in a shooting.”
Lewis was one of the L.I.U members who respected Noralez, she said, and that they shared a few commonalities and that she encouraged him to stay longer in the program, even when he wanted to change course.
Ras Bobo
Dominique Noralez
“He has been one of the most consistent people to speak with me pragmatically and with utmost respect. Like he didn’t think less of me because I’m a woman or because I’m younger, because he – we held – I think we meshed a lot. Our personalities were much of the same. And so I know he was doing a lot of work. In fact I, was very gracious to him because very many times he sat with me and said, “You know, boss lady, ah di think bout move on from the program, yoh know.” And da like, “No man, no man! Stay, cause yoh da wa important part of our structure, right. People respect you,” and so he stayed and his concern was just his farm and his children. And so he wanted to just deal with the farm works, “mash the farm work,” as he wudda say.”
An area resident told News Five off record that they heard the shots, and when they went outside to see what it was, they saw two young men on a motorcycle heading up to Elston Kerr Street and then making a left, as if heading towards Iguana Street Extension. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero told the media today that police have not yet established the reason for Lewis’ murder and have not yet charged anyone, but that they have detained a number of persons.
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“No one has been arrested or charged for this crime. Several persons are in custody and the investigation continues.”
Ras Bobo
Reporter
“Do police believe that Mr. Lewis was ambushed, in a way? Because we understand he goes to this area every two weeks to cash these L.I.U. checks.”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“Yes, that is the information we have. He was there doing some transactions and when he was heading back, he was targeted. We have not ascertained a clear motive. All we know is that he was in that era and was targeted.”
Hipolito Novelo
“The persons being interviewed, are they from the area or a gang in the area?”
Ras Bobo
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“The persons are from the area.”
Meanwhile, as the L.I.U tries to keep gang activity at a minimum, the police have taken steps to discourage retaliatory actions.
Dominique Noralez
“It’s something that we’re trying to contain as much as possible, minimize or even eradicate as much as possible but we’re doing our best, collaborating with the police department, who has been one of L.I.U’s greatest partners, if not greatest partners, while also collaborating with the Department of Youth Services [on] behavior modification and conflict management services. The public, of course, while being cautious and having a bit more precaution, should rest assured that we’re doing all we can to manage the current increase in shootings.”
Ras Bobo
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“We have several measures that are in place in that area.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Those measures, are particular persons being monitored?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“Yes, particular persons are being monitored and will be detained for an interview.”
So far, the police say they cannot link Lewis’ murder to any of the other shootings or the other murder this past weekend in Belize City. Marion Ali for News Five.
The third murder of the weekend occurred in the Kings Park area of Belize City. It happened on Friday night, and the victim was thirty-year-old Nigel Williams. Williams was driving along Dunn Street towards Saint Thomas Street when he was approached by a male person and shot at, causing him to lose control of his car and crash into the drain. Williams exited his vehicle and attempted to flee but was pursued by the shooter and ultimately killed. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the full story.
Britney Gordon, reporting
Last Friday, the quiet of the night was disturbed as a series of gunshots rained down on the vehicle of thirty-year-old Nigel Williams. We spoke to the police for more details on the incident.
“On Friday, the twenty-second day of March, around ten fifty-two p.m., police responded to a shooting incident on Saint Thomas Street. Upon the arrival, they found Nigel Williams with gunshot injuries. He was taken to the KHMH where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Information is that Nigel Williams was in the area in a vehicle. And as he tried to turn a lane, he was approached by a male person who fired several shots towards his direction. Nigel Williams ran from that area, and he ended up by the stoplights on Saint Thomas Street where he collapsed and that is where police recovered his body. The vehicle was found in a drain in the area with bullet holes. An investigation was carried out and since then we have arrested and charged Tyreke Supal, twenty-three years for the crime of murder.”
Twenty-three-year-old Tyreke Supal has been arrested for the murder, and while police say that both men were known to them, they have yet to establish a motive for the crime.
Tyreke Supal
Hilberto Romero
“We have not established a motive. He was in the area visiting his girlfriend when he was targeted.”
Reporter
“Considering that he doesn’t live there, was the suspect lay-waiting him?”
Hilberto Romero
“That is the information we have. As soon as he turned a lane in the area, the person was there with the firearm and fired shots towards him.”
Reporter
“Do police have any information that these two may have been in contact prior?”
Nigel Williams
Hilberto Romero
“No, we don’t.”
Hipolito Novelo
“He’s not known to police? The victim?“
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, he is known, yes.”
Reporter
“And is the suspect known to police as well?”
Hilberto Romero
“The suspect is known to police as well”
Williams was a father of two, described as a loving and caring father and husband. His wife, Jessica Williams, stated that she has no idea why anyone would target her husband, as he was a joyful and well-beloved member of the community.
Britney Gordon
“Do you know if there could be any possible motive that anyone would want to target your husband?”
On the phone: Jessica Williams
On the phone: Jessica Williams, Wife of Victim
“Honestly, no. He was loved by so many It was, it was a shock. We didn’t know of there being any issues with anybody for anything. We understood that he was doing taxi. He enjoyed life. He loves to party, and he loves seeing people have a good time. So, there is really nothing that I would say anyone knew, regarding why this would happen.”
She said that Williams came from a very large family, which he prioritised in everything he did. He was the father of two sons—a fifteen-month-old and an eleven-year-old—from a previous relationship.
On the phone: Jessica Williams
“He was my slice of heaven or another way to say it, heaven on this side of earth. So he was a caring individual. He was loving. He was very adamant about me and ensuring that I was safe. No one could do any harm to me. So he, he was just that type of guy. He wanted to make sure everyone was good. He is very big hearted for his family, his nieces, his nephews, always taking them to the water, always, when we lived down in Corozal, coming up to city, picking them up and bringing them, you know, giving them an experience. Easter holiday was one of the many times of the year we all got together as a family and just, hung out and spent time and he just enjoyed it. Family, he was a very family friendly man.”
As Williams and her family are currently living abroad, she has started a GoFundMe in order to cover the cost of them flying over for the funeral as well as the funeral expenses.
On the phone: Jessica Williams
“We just put out the request, just because there is his mother that’s here in states and a couple of his siblings, myself, my son, of course his in laws off my side that all have to travel in. And also, we have to cover the cost of the funeral. So, while we’re covering our expenses to travel in, we’re just reaching and asking for those who want to show love and support stateside who can’t go, who wants to be a contributor of our final farewell. We’re just asking and giving the opportunity for people to share their love monetarily and send them off the way he should.”
Two men survived separate shooting incidents over the weekend in Belize City. One of them was Ashton Myers. He was shot at on Sunday evening while at his residence on Freedom Street. Investigators say that Myers was shot several times. The victim was rushed to the K.H.M.H., where he remains in a stablecondition. ACP Hilberto Romero shared more details.
“Information is that he was sitting in front of his yard when a vehicle came in the area and a person came out and fired several shots towards his direction. Again, several persons are detained and are being interviewed in regards to this report.
Hipolito Novelo
The person’s being interviewed and in detention, they know the victim?
A.C.P Hilberto Romero
“We have information that, it is over some rival that they have in that area. And yes, they know each other.”
Hipolito Novelo
The victim has provided an official statement to police.
A.C.P Hilberto Romero
“Not as yet. He receiving treatment as soon as he recovers, that will be done.”
Later that Sunday night, Belize City police were called out to an area near Jane Usher Boulevard. There they found Fredrick Garbutt, suffering from several gunshot injuries. He was rushed to the K.H.M.H., where he is in a stable condition. ACP Hilberto Romero says that several persons have been detained.
“His presently still listed in a stable condition at KHMH. Several persons have been detained and are being interviewed in regards to this report. Yes, he’s from that area.”
Reporter
“That area seems to have been heating up recently. We had the Troy Hyde area not to far from where this happened. Are you guys taking any special focus on the genocide?”
ACP Hilberto Romero
“Yes, there are several patrols and specialized units in that area, uh, covering the various gang bases. This person was walking on Jane Oshawa Boulevard and he was targeted.”
Immigration officer Monique Escalante is being accused of extortion. Investigators say that she extorted Jamaican, Jahnoi Shaun Dhee Richards last week. Richards claims that she extorted him of three thousand US dollars while he was at the Philip Goldson International Airport. Prime Minister John Briceño, who is also the Minister of Immigration said that if the immigration officer is found guilty, she will have to face the music.
The Belize Police Department has released official details of the fatal shooting of twenty-nine-year-old Dylan Anthony, a resident of Camalote Village. The murder happened on the Roaring Creek bridge just before nine o’clock last night. Anthony was shot multiple times. Police say that Anthony “was travelling from an east-to-west direction towards Camalote Village when an unknown male assailant opened fire on him near the Roaring Creek Bridge. As a result, Anthony lost control of his motorcycle and fell onto the pavement where he succumbed to his injuries.”
Reports suggest that it is a case of mistaken identity.
One man was injured following a shooting in Roaring Creek Village, Cayo, last night. The victim has been identified as twenty-three-year-old Daniel Lopez. Witnesses say that the shooters fired at a crowd, injuring Lopez in the leg.
Lopez was at a social gathering when two men on a motorcycle opened fire. Police are investigating.
Thirty-year-old Nigel Williams was shot and killed last night in Belize City. It happened near Dunn and St. Thomas streets at around eleven o’clock. Williams was in his Toyota 4Runner when a gunman approached him and fired several shots. Williams subsequently lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a drain. He attempted to escape from the gunman on foot but collapsed moments later. Police are investigating.
Belize City police are on high alert tonight following the fatal shooting of gang figure forty-four-year-old Elwin Lewis. The notorious street figure is considered an elder in the underground world in Southside Belize City. He is considered one of the leaders of the George Street Gang. He was shot several times near Gwen Lizarraga School. He was rushed to the K.H.M.H., where he died. Tonight, police are expecting retaliation.
