There's been a spate of shootings across the city over the past few days and last night, a 15-year-old male retiring from an evening of basketball was shot in the hand. At around 9 last night Sherick Trapp was at a basketball court on Kut Avenue when he says someone approached him and fired a single gunshot that caught him in the left palm. Officer in charge of the Crimes Investigation Branch in Belize City ASP Chester Williams today told us what happened with this and other shootings.
ASP Chester Williams, C.I.B. Commander
"Sherick Trapp reported to the police that sometime around 9 last night he was in the area of St. John's basketball court, that's in the area of Amara Avenue I believe, when a male person on a bicycle, wearing a mask, passed by and fired several shots at him, one of which caught him in the palm of his hand. This matter is still under investigation. Due to the fact that the assailant was wearing a mask it will make our investigations more difficult but nonetheless, we will do whatever we can as we have done with the other investigations to see how we can bring this investigation to a close.
Over the past few days we've had some random shootings, especially in the area of south side of Belize City. We have vigorously been pursuing these investigations and today we have made arrests in two of the cases. This afternoon we arrested and charged Leon Soberanis, a 22 year old of Rocky Road area. He was charged for aggravated assault after he allegedly fired several shots at Evan Gray and Jason Crawford. We have also formally arrested and charged Phillip Wallace, 17 years old of Reggae Street, for the crime of aggravated assault, likewise, after a minor reported that he was shot at by this individual. So since then this person has also been charged for aggravated assault."
Alfonso Noble,
Okay Mr. Wallace is he by any chance any relation to the deceased Wallace that was shot by the police earlier this year?
ASP Chester Williams,
"He is the elder brother of the deceased Wallace that you are referring to."
Alfonso Noble,
What is the motivation for all of these shootings that once again are happening in Belize City over the past few days?
ASP Chester Williams,
"Well I believe it is just a matter of, if you notice the type of persons involved are minors, young people, and I just believe that they are people who want to prove a point or basically you would call them want-to-be. They are either working on the instruction of somebody or they are doing it to prove a point to somebody. Those basically, I believe, are the motives for the shootings."
