A 29-year-old man was killed on Sunday afternoon. Police report that they found Gilbert Phillips inside a red pickup truck near an area known as Cardinez Alley off St. Jude Street in Belize City. Police believe he was killed as a result of him trying to buy a gun and the deal going bad but family members today told us that story is hard for them to believe.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
Sometime after midday on Sunday 29 year old Gilbert Phillips accompanied by two other men drove this his red pickup truck here to the corner of Sarstoon and St. Jude Streets and here is where his life ended. When police came to the scene they found Phillips inside the pickup truck suffering from a gunshot to the head.
ASP Chester Williams, C.I.B. Commander
"Inside the vehicle was Mr. Gilbert Phillips suffering from one single gunshot wound to the head."
Reports are that Phillips along with the two men Derrick Parham and Jervin Robinson had come to the area to purchase a firearm. It was then that a man dressed in full black approached the vehicle. As the purchase was about to be made the man cocked the weapon and grabbed the money. Sensing danger Parham rolled up the pickup's window but the gunman opened fire hitting Phillips to the head. For Phillips' family the way his life was ended is unbelievable because they say he was not the kind to be caught up in any kind of activity.
Shawn Jones, Victim's Girlfriend
"Yesterday morning we got up and he dropped at my mom's house and said he was going to go wash. This was around 11. He said he was going to go wash so he went home but couple hours after I was home and one of his friends came and told me they shot him but it was surprising because I don't know him as that type. So when I reached at the hospital they told me that it was like a robbery...I haven't fully gotten the story but it's shocking to me because he is not that type. I wouldn't know why the person did it or what caused it. I don't know. All I know is that they said he was washing and somebody came for him and he went with the person. After that they heard he was shot so I don't know if it was a setup or what. Anybody who knows him, don't know him as that type. He is just an outgoing person, likes to have fun, and just hardworking to care of his family."
Cherry Phillips, Sister
"He is somebody who goes from work to home and he is not a trouble person, nobody out here has beef with him so those accusations they are saying I don't believe. I won't say because I don't know what he was doing at the time when the thing happened from I went to the scene of the crime, I could tell you that that was a setup. Somebody set up my brother to kill him; that is plain setup.
He isn't a trouble person. He isn't someone that even goes out to clubs or those things. He is not that type. He likes to go to those functions they have but he doesn't go to clubs. The little shows or so, he would go, like maybe when those reggae artists come but other than that he is somebody who doesn't even hang out on the street, he comes straight home and goes into his house. I don't believe that gun charge, I would say more it is a weed they went to buy and then somebody already knows his in and out, what he usually does on Sundays because every Sunday he goes to buy his grocery, get his money from the ATM and go to buy his groceries. So I think the person who took him there knew what he was going to do so they set him up and nobody can't tell me they didn't set him up. They set up my little brother and they kill him; plain setup."
While the family still puzzles over the death of Gilbert Phillips police have been quick to respond and they have arrested the man they believe to have committed the crime.
ASP Chester Williams,
"Immediately after the incident
occurred, with the assistance of the community and cohesive work of the police, we were able to quickly apprehend the suspect in the particular incident, one Kenroy Humes, and he was later subsequently charged for the shooting death of Gilbert Phillips.
From our investigations the motive appeared to have been robbery. What we gather is that Phillips went into the area to purchase some item from Humes and instead Humes took his money and after taking the money he shot him. That is the motive we have gathered in relation to that incident."
Cherry Phillips,
"Only God could deal with that because they will pay. They might feel like they got away but they'll pay, serious."
16-year-old student Kenroy Humes this morning was taken to Magistrate's Court but was later transferred to the Family Court from where he was remanded to the Hattieville Prison's boot camp facilities. He is to reappear on May 18th. It is of note that Humes is already facing a previous charge of attempted murder for which he is to appear in the Family Court on May 9th.
