CitCo Employee Shoots Colleague Over Dog Dispute

Over the weekend, police made an arrest for one of the city’s murders and charged a man in connection with another shooting that left a Belize City Council employee injured. Travis Flowers, forty-five, was detained after allegedly trying to kill his co-worker, Calvin Cumberbatch, a Transport Evaluator for the Belize City Council. The incident happened in broad daylight on Orange Street on Saturday around 2:45 p.m. Flowers, a coordinator with the Belize City Council’s Enforcement Department, appeared in court this morning before Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola. He faced three serious charges: attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and dangerous harm against Cumberbatch.  The shooting stemmed from an altercation between the two men. According to police reports, Cumberbatch was walking on West Street when a black SUV tried to run him over. The driver, who turned out to be Flowers, got out of the vehicle, and the two exchanged words. Flowers allegedly tried to punch Cumberbatch, who defended himself and punched Flowers back. Flowers then reportedly pulled out his licensed firearm and shot Cumberbatch twice, injuring his shoulder and abdomen. Cumberbatch told police he was unarmed and tried to hide from Flowers, who continued to pursue him until neighbors intervened. Police later found Flowers on Vernon Street with his Glock pistol, which has since been confiscated. The investigation is ongoing as the police try to determine the motive behind the attack.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Police responded to a shooting incident at Orange Street in Belize City.  Upon their arrival, they saw Calvin Cumberbatch with gunshot injuries.  He was taken to the KHMH for treatment.  Investigation revealed that Calvin Cumberbatch had a dispute with Travis Flowers, they got into a fight and thereafter, Travis Flowers went into his vehicle pulled out a firearm and fired shots at Calvin Cumberbatch causing his injuries.  Efforts were made and Calvin Flowers was located and his license firearm was seized.  He has since been arrested and charged for the crimes of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm.  Calvin Cumberbatch is at the KHMH in a stable condition. It was after the fight that he went into the vehicle and retrieved the firearm.  He did not pull it out there and then, he went for the firearm and then fired the shots.  So he has been charged for the three crimes I mentioned.”

Reporter

“Would that be justified as self-defense?”

 

Hilberto Romero

“Since it is not there and then, he went, got the firearm, then he came and fired the shots.”

 

Reporter

“Do you know the nature of the dispute they’ve been having?”

 

Hilberto Romero

“The incident that occurred on that day, I think they were quarreling over a dog and that led to the shooting.”