It was a violent weekend, and we'll tell you all about it, but first, there was an even more violent start to the work week as there was a broad daylight murder in one of the busiest shopping areas of Belize City. In a wild shooting spree this afternoon, one man was killed and two others were injured. The victim is 28-year-old Kevin Parks. He was executed by gunmen riding on bicycles this afternoon on Euphrates Avenue. That's where our coverage begins.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This was the scene on Euphrates Avenue this afternoon. When our team arrived - the body of Kevin Parks and the other shooting victims had already been removed but there was still blood and a trail of expended 9 millimeter shells on the street, at 2:30 in the afternoon, a busy street just a block from two schools, cordoned off as a crime scene. Superintendent Chester Williams is the lead investigator.
Supt. Chester Williams, C.I.B. Commander
"This afternoon sometime around 2 pm the police received information of a shooting here on Euphrates Avenue where we are right now. Police responded where they saw one male person, identified as Kevin Parks, suffering from gunshot wounds to the back region. He was transported to the KHMH where we have been made aware that he passed away."
Parks was killed literally just ma few a feet away from his home at number 12 Euphrates Avenue. 29 year old Jose Pech and Charles Mass were the other victims. Police however believe that Kevin Parks was the target. His uncle Kenny Moss can't think of any reason why they would want his nephew dead.
Kenny Moss, Uncle of Deceased
"My nephew and my brother got shot but as I was saying, this is rough. This is really rough. I don't know what to say. It is rough because right now I can't even explain what happened. I don't know what is happening. I have no idea, no kind of idea why this revenge, why this is happening. I guess the shooter knew who he was after to make none of the kids get shot. It is a dangerous thing, seriously it is a dangerous thing. It is a little daycare my mom has right there. People trust her to mind the kids for them. Then again I can't swear for my nephew but I can swear for my brother. We are not like those type of people."
But admittedly - Moss' nephew - Kevin Parks - was deported from the united states last week.
Kenny Moss,
"I am trying to piece up one and one together and one and one bring two and they shot two. I am not laughing about it. I don't know what my little nephew did and I can't swear for him. I can't because I don't know."
Lead investigator Chester Williams believes Kevin was deliberately targeted.
Supt. Chester Williams,
"They were heading to the back of the yard so obviously they must have been watching them for over a period of time to have been able to know that they were in the back yard."
Keith Swift,
Why would they want Kevin dead?
Supt. Chester Williams,
"At this time we have no particular reason. We know that Kevin was recently deported from the States and he just came into the country of Belize sometimes last week. So we are looking at the possibility as to what may have caused them to want him dead."
And whoever wanted him dead didn't care if they got him in the middle of the day, in the middle of the street, or if it was within earshot of a prominent primary school.
Keith Swift,
Are we seeing a resurgence of gang warfare?
Supt. Chester Williams,
"I would not say that yes we are seeing a resurgence of gang warfare but we have people who have beef with others over a period of time and seemingly this is what is coming back to haunt many people now. the fact that we had a murder this afternoon at 2, does not mean that crime is out of control. It will happen from time to time. The police cannot prevent all crime from occurring. We will do our best."
Reports are that since Kevin Parks returned to Belize last week, police received intelligence which said that he had been marked for death. And in fact today's killing was the culmination of a weekend of violence.
