Several Persons Detained for Ras Bobo Murder Investigation  

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.

 

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“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, 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.

 

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.”

 

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?”

 

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.”

 

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.