Police Making Progress on New Year’s Shooting Investigation

On January first, Belize City was rocked by three separate shooting incidents. The first happened on Levi Slusher Street, where a four-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet, likely due to reckless gunfire during fireworks displays. Around three a.m., the second shooting took place when Jody Ortiz, Dennis Aranda, and Anwar Smith were targeted by a gunman in a white vehicle while they were hanging out in a yard on Linda Vista Street. Less than two hours later, the third shooting of New Year’s Day occurred, with twenty-two-year-old Shemar Gillett getting shot in the arm on Marigold Alley as he was heading home. Earlier today, police visited the Holy Emmanuel Street area, and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams informed us that they are making progress in the shooting investigations.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I’m here because we do have some rising tensions in the area within the BLC.  And so I am here along with Mr. Gamboa to see what we can do to  try and defuse the issue before it goes any further.”

 

Reporter

“Have you gotten any useful information so far?”

 

Chester Williams

“Of course, yes, we’re getting good insight in terms of what actually transpired New Year’s morning. And the information that we’re getting, we will use that to see how best we can stem the issue before it escalates any further.”

 

Reporter

“I know there are older, maybe former persons that used to be involved in gang activity who are now leading another life.  Do they assist in trying to keep the peace, maybe for the younger persons coming into their life?”

 

Chester Williams

“ Well, of course, and if you listen to my New Year’s message, I was clear that the police department is going to continue to work with LIU to see how best we can provide a way out to those persons who wish to become law abiding and useful members of our society. This is a part of what we want to do to ensure that we provide that avenue for people to be able to make that change that they want to make.”