It has been a murderous week and this morning in Belize City Shooters almost claimed the tenth murder victim since Monday. The shooting has all appearances of an orchestrated hit - daringly executed just a few hundred feet from the foot of the Swing Bridge in mid morning Belize City. Mark Gardiner was shot in the head but tonight he is still alive. He is unconscious and barely clinging to life. Keith Swift begins our story at the scene of the bold murder attempt.
Keith Swift Reporting,
It is one if downtown Belize City's busiest intersections but this morning the corner of Water Lane and East Canal was cordoned off as a crime scene. It was here in broad-daylight, in front of a popular eatery, Marva's Restaurant, that a man was shot in his head. That man is 26-year-old Mark Gardiner.
Witnesses say that around 9:30 Gardiner was riding his bicycle, right in front of Marva's. Gardiner was riding from East Canal towards Water Lane when he was approached from behind by a man on a bicycle who opened fire on Gardiner as he was turning onto the Water Lane bridge.
Lincoln Gill was cleaning the yard behind Marva's Restaurant. He didn't see the shooting but heard the shot.
Lincoln Gill, Witness
"I was in the back of the yard trying to sweep up the back of the yard to keep the yard clean. I came to the front but I was taking my time walking because there was paper and the breeze was blowing so I just heard one shot. I heard one shot, a hard one. I don't know where it came from."
Keith Swift,
What did you see when you came to the front?
Lincoln Gill,
"I came to the front and I saw the man on the ground."
This is the bike Mark was riding and this puddle of blood marks the spot where he fell. CIB Commander - Superintendent Chester Williams commented on the investigation.
Supt. Chester Williams, Commander - CIB
"At this point in time we have no particular motive. We are presently looking for one person in the name of Kareem Lopez, who we believe may be able
to assist us in our investigation."
Keith Swift,
Why do you believe he can assist you in your investigation?
Supt. Chester Williams,
"I am not going to go too in depth into the reason why I say so but as I mentioned, we are looking for him. We believe he could assist our investigation."
Keith Swift,
Is he a suspect?
Supt. Chester Williams,
"As I said I will not go too much into details with that information. From what we gathered so far during the investigation, we do not believe that this incident has any relation to the incident that happened three years ago at MCC Grounds."
Keith Swift,
Do you believe this person was trailing Mark Gardiner and when he turned onto the bridge they shot him or do you believe this person just happened upon Mark Gardiner?
Supt. Chester Williams,
"From the way it happened, it is obvious that the person was following him because the person rode up from behind him, they were both riding separate bicycles in the same direction, the person rode up from behind him and upon him approaching the bridge, that was when the person took the opportunity and shot him from behind the head. The entry wound is to the back of the head."
Mark was rushed to the KHMH which is where we met his father. Christopher Griffith Gardiner told us his son was in critical condition.
Christopher Griffith Gardiner, Mark's Father
"The doctors say he will get a CAT scan but he is very serious."
Keith Swift,
Where was he shot?
Christopher Griffith Gardiner,
"To the back of his head."
Keith Swift,
When was the last time you saw your son?
Christopher Griffith Gardiner,
"In bed I left him this morning when I went to work."
Alfonso Noble,
Mr. Gardiner this is not the first that they have tried to kill your son.
Christopher Griffith Gardiner,
"This is the fourth time they shot him."
And this morning as he held the shirt his son was wearing when he got shot - Christopher Griffith Gardiner told us he doesn't believe Mark, his youngest child, will make it.
Christopher Griffith Gardiner.
"I am telling you the truth, I doubt he will make it. But I don't want to say it in front of them because you have people who are easy to faint away and so."
Keith Swift,
You don't think Mark will make it?
Christopher Griffith Gardiner,
[Shakes Head]
And while the hit out on Gardiner might be one story, witnesses and those involved say the arrogance of the shooting in the middle of the morning and in the middle of the country's commercial capital caught them off guard.
Lincoln Gill,
"It is not nice right now because people just are doing whatever and it is not working like that. They need to hold that down period."
Christopher Griffith Gardiner,
"I don't have anything to say to these people because if you say, they will just target you and they won't target me because the police won't give you a 'bligging' gun to protect yourself. So if you don't have a gun to protect yourself how will you do it."
Mark Gardiner underwent emergency surgery this evening. He is still unconscious. Doctors at the KHMH say Gardiner's chances of a full recovery are minimal.
