Local News

The weekend did not go by without incident.  There were three murders between Friday night and this morning, two in Belize City and one in the Toledo District.  In the first incident on Friday night, Stephen Flowers was shot dead on Mahogany Street.  At the regular Police Press Conference today at the Raccoon Street Police Station, Police Press Officer, Fitzroy Yearwood, explained how it happened.

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Press Officer

Police Department

“Sometime around 9:25pm on the 27^th of July, Police visited the KHMH and they saw Stephen Flowers suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the rib cage, the right side of his chest, right hand and also to the right side.  Also seen was Ryan Mejia, he was seen suffering from gunshot wounds to both legs.  Flowers succumbed to his injuries sometime around 11pm whilst undergoing treatment at the KHMH.  Our initial investigation has revealed, so far that Flowers and Mejia were socializing on Mahogany Street in front of a bakery when they heard several shots coming from a dark area and realized that they were hit.  Both men were rushed to the KHMH.  We have four persons detained in connection with this murder and hope to file charges soon.”

The second Belize City murder occurred early Sunday morning and claimed the life of a member of the Belize Defense Force band, as Yearwood shared.

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Press Officer

Police Department

“At 2:50am on the 29^th of July, Police responded to a scene on Cemetery road where they saw the lifeless body of Wayne Madrill, 42 years, member of the Belize Defense Force Band.  He was seen lying in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds to the face and head.  Initial investigation reveals that Madrill was walking on Cemetery Road in the company of another person when they heard several shots.  The other person escaped unhurt while Madrill died on the spot.”

The third murder occurred early this morning in Punta Gorda Town, Toledo and in custody are two policemen for the incident.  Police Press Officer Inspector Yearwood, says the incident in question happened at a bar in that town and claimed the life of Michael Valerio.

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Press Officer

Police Department

“We have a murder report in Toledo where we have two police officers detained in connection with this incident pending the outcome of the investigation.  We have already launched an internal and a criminal investigation simultaneously.  This is where one man lost his life and it is being alleged that it was at the hands of two off-duty police officers.  A Commissioner of the Supreme Court informed the Police that there was on Michael Valerio who was seen suffering from cut wounds to the head, body and left side of the face.  This person was transported to by Police to the Punta Gorda hospital where around 12am on today’s date, this person succumbed to his injuries.  Police have since detained the two off-duty officers and it is being alleged that they were under the influence of alcohol.”

According to Yearwood, another person who was beaten, Noel Lopez, claims that he went to file a report with the Punta Gorda Police Station and while on his way to the Punta Gorda Hospital for treatment, the same off-duty police men passed back and beat him again.  Meanwhile, in a shooting that happened on Friday night, a stevedore was targeted on Rivero Street in the Port Loyola area. 

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Press Officer

Police Department

“Police visited the KHMH where they saw Raymond Arnold, 28 years, a stevedore suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the right side of his chest, his chin, upper back and right leg.  Initial investigation reveals that Arnold was standing on Rivero Street when his attention was drawn to shots being fired in his direction, then he realized that he was hit.  We are still investigating that and we have no suspects detained for that one.”

Another man is receiving treatment at the KHMH as a result of gunshot wounds he suffered on Sunday night.  Yearwood gave us the details.

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Press Officer

Police Department

“On the 29^th July at 8pm, Police visited the KHMH where they saw Dwayne Sutherland, 23 years suffering from gunshot wounds to the left leg and right calf.  Initial investigation reveals that Sutherland was standing on La Croix Boulevard when a dark complexioned male person on bicycle rode towards him and fired several shots causing the injuries.”

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