She’s lost two sons and one nephew to gun violence but Therese Felix has carried on – a soldier for peace in a time of war, a war that keep finding its way to her door step. And, it did again last night. After losing her son Faron just a month ago, another was shot last night – shot for the second time in four months. It’s a staggering toll of cumulative loss and today Therese Felix told us how she’s coping. Jacqueline Godwin Reports.
Therese Felix, Mother of Shooting Victim
“I bury a son 2006, mothers’ day they kill him now Faron that was my Christmas gift now Roy, couple days before my birthday so you know, how much more what is the next surprise left in store for me now.”
This picture of Roy Bennett was taken when he was a young teenager. Today he is twenty years old and both he and his family are doing what they can to protect his identity. Why? Someone is trying to kill Roy Bennett.
Therese Felix,
“Jackie all I want to tell them is I am not burying no more of my children. They will kill them and bury them, I am not burying no more, I am not burying no more. I no intend to bury no more. I am not saying what I am going to do but like I said I am not burying no more and I no intend to bury no more. I cannot bury my children, 6,7 and 8 no man ah ah some mother has to take a stand and I will to take that stand now because this is unbearable, this unbearable.”
Around nine on Tuesday night Bennett was visiting a friend at this residence in the area of Jane Usher Boulevard when he was shot several times by a lone gunman. It is believed the shooter may have followed his victim into the neighborhood. Bennett told police that while at the house he heard a noise coming from the yard and when he peeped outside that is when he saw a clear complexioned man wearing a white t – shirt with a stocking over his face and holding a handgun. Four shots were fired. Roy was hit with three bullets and one of the slugs hit the front wooden door.
Therese Felix,
“I was home good, good, good one last night. Roy was suppose to have been at work when I hear my gate open and my other son holler ma, Roy just get shot. You know I came outside, the young man thought it was only one shot that he had gotten like two or three minutes after my phone ring. I get a call from the hospital, my son get three shot, one in his hand, one in his leg and one in the left side of his buttocks.”
For Therese Felix it has a been a never ending nightmare that started in May 2006 when her first son, Tyrone Felix was shot and killed on Mother’s
Day. One year later her youngest son Faron Felix was also murdered. Today she is dealing with the fact that one day she will lose her third son to gun violence.
Therese Felix,
“I the ask them to please call me and tell me. A lot of people the say that you sound stupid and thing because you the asked that but I really want to know if my children the use somebody or the do somebody something. I want to know, I am the fittest one. I need to know. I want to know what they are doing out there because I no know everything I know something.”
The Felix family does not know why their third son is being targeted but strongly suspect that an incident that occurred last year that is now before the courts may be the result of last night’s shooting. In 2007, Roy Bennett was shot in the back by someone he knows.
Therese Felix,
“The only thing I know is that Roy did get shot last year September.
I no know if they are trying to send him a message through to Roy or what you know but man, Jack, I can’t handle, I can’t bury anymore of my children them. I send Roy last year September to get a form from Benny’s for a vacancy. Coming back from Benny’s Roy get shot. I get call again from the hospital telling me Roy is at the hospital with a gunshot in the back. You know. He gave a statement saying he knows who did it. Make that go through the court case, make that go through the court and left that so. You know your friend done to do wrong so make him take the penalty now. I can’t afford to bury any more and just let it go like that. This the get, this is unbearable, this is too much for me. I no know the how much more they want to push me now. You know this is too much.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What is the problem? Information reaching us at 7NEWS suggests that when Faron was, your younger son was killed, it was actually Roy that they wanted?
Therese Felix,
“I hear that too, I hear that same rumor too and that is the part that I say the only thing I know Roy has is this court case you know. I know nothing else. Maybe he and somebody else out there has a problem but if they have a problem I am asking them to please call me and tell me before they have to take it that way please call em and tell me. I would a really want to know Jackie I cannot bury no more and I no intend to bury no more.”
The violence has been too much for Felix who has lost two of her five children to gun violence.
Therese Felix,
“I mad Jackie, I mad, I mad, my son noh even dead two months yet. That was my baby too you know. I just hope that it stop, I just hope that it stops. Like I say, a person will take and take and take but a person can take only so much. Nobody will know when you get tired but you and I really no want it to go that way cause then I will not care either. I have my next children too. They might not be small but I am still their mother you know but I can’t give birth to my children for man just to come and take them away from me same way too.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And what is the family doing to speak tot he other siblings to try and keep the family together?
Therese Felix,
“Jackie, I do my best and my children know that too like I tell them their friend lost a friend, you all lost two brothers, your mother lost two sons so we know what is happening you know I try to encourage them and I don’t see like they are doing wrong. I know they will have friends, you cannot stop them from having friends. If you want to be their friend, be their friend butt then if you and one have problems, then deal with that one or make the two mothers come together and deal with that why are you going, why you have to pull out the guns and shot, shot and shot that no make no sense.”
The murder of her first son Tyrone Felix prompted this grieving mother to help established the group, Mothers Organized for Peace. Today she vows to continue the anti crime campaign
Therese Felix,
“Put down those guns, this is not making any sense. Open your eyes and see what is happening to Belize. You know this is fool man, this is not making any sense.”
Police say that Bennett has refused to cooperate with their investigation.
