Two Men Shot in Lord’s Bank as Belize River Valley Rivalry Escalates

Two men from the rural Belize district were hospitalized after a shooting on Saturday night. Police say that around ten thirty, Cyril Banner and Jaden Young were driving through Lord’s Bank and came under gunfire upon reaching in front of the BWS compound. An SUV drove up beside them on the driver’s side and someone multiple several shots, hitting both men to the body. They were later taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment. Banner was treated and later released, while Young is listed as critical. Chester Williams addressed the matter personally today, noting that the shooting stems from a rivalry between two groups in the Belize River Valley. Williams says that police will be intensifying their presence in the area to address the issue.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Police responded and they came across a black Nissan car. Inside the vehicle had two occupants, both persons displayed gunshot injuries to their bodies. They were transported to the KHMH by the police for treatment. So far one of the individuals has been released from the hospital while the other one is admitted in a critical condition but somehow we believe that his prognosis is improving. Police have since launched an investigation into that matter and just a few hours ago police were able to locate the vehicle that we believe was used by the shooters. In that matter and so that is currently being processed. From what we are seeing is that this is a result of the ongoing feud between the two rivaling groups in the river valley area. We’d know that earlier in the year we saw an increase in shootings in the Belize River Valley area and then we recently saw that Ms.Flowers was also shot on Sarstoon Street here in Belize City and we also believe that her shooting was also a result of those feuds in that area. I have since instructed the operations team under the command of ACP Grinage to make sure that we go after all those persons concerned. We have done a lot in terms of mediation, meetings, even with the various village councils trying to find a lasting resolution to the issue but somehow it seems that those young men who are part of this beef do not want to give up and they seem determined to go after each other and so we will intensify our operational efforts at theme and believe you me they will come to you all the media and they are going to complain. I trust and hope that when the complaints come to you that you do not entertain them because there comes a time when we have to stop talk and people have to begin to feel.”

Williams says police will also be cracking down on people making posts on social media that might escalate the situation.