When two men were gunned down on Gill Street in daylight hours on Valentine’s Day – it struck a chord in the community: not only had they been killed on Valentine’s Day, they were working men on their way home after a full day on the job, and the hardhats on the street were a chilling reminder of how ruthless and random killers can be. But, police investigation show that it was not random and it was only as ruthless as a teenager can be – because they say a 16 year old pulled the trigger. Jacqueline Godwin found out more.
Insp. Hilberto Romero, Deputy O.C. - CIB
“We have conducted a thorough investigation and our investigation revealed a certain information, evidence, and based on that we have charged these persons for the murders that occurred on the 14th of February.”
Deputy officer in charge of Belize City Crimes Investigation Branch Inspector Hilberto Romero says it was a recent misunderstanding between a sixteen year old minor and eighteen year old Roberto Torres that led to the double homicide and attempted murder on Valentine’s Day.
Eighteen year old Roberto Torres and nineteen year old Eugene Flores – both working men - were killed in the shooting. Torres, Flores and Ron Thomas all worked at the Esso Depot on Ceasar Ridge Road and were riding their bicycles home when they came under fire on Gill Street. A total of fifteen expended shells were recovered from the scene. Twenty four year old Ron Thomas is the only survivor, he is recovering from a gunshot wound to his upper right leg.
Because the suspected shooter is a minor we are unable to give the name of the sixteen-year-old. But police say the teenager did not act alone and have charged four others with conspiracy to commit murder. They are a disc jockey identified as twenty one year old Albert Allen, a construction worker, twenty two year old Ryan Felix, a gas attendant, twenty eight year old Earl Hamilton and police officer number 682 twenty one year old Gilbert Hyde.
Insp. Hilberto Romero,
“The old misunderstanding was with one person and apparently the other guys were along and that is the reason they were targetted.”
PC Gilbert Hyde has been placed on interdiction from active duty but he will still receive half of his pay.
Insp. Hilberto Romero,
“Well the Department has a zero tolerance to police corruption or to police misconduct and whenever evidence surfaces that a police has been involved in a particular crime, the police will be dealt with, the matter will be investigated, and the law will take its course. But the Commissioner has stated that at no time we will condone any police officers doing any wrongdoing. If evidence surfaces, that police officer will be dealt with.”
While police would not discuss the specifics of the case, investigations suggest that the misunderstanding had to do with a dispute over a basketball game which had been played months ago.
Jacqueline Godwin,
If he only had a misunderstanding with only one of the individuals, why did he continue shooting?
Insp. Hilberto Romero,
“Like I mentioned, they were all together and one person was targeted, the rest were just along with this person.”
A misunderstanding that turned into murder and police say it was the ninth killing for Belize City since the start of the New Year.
Insp. Hilberto Romero,
“We view it with concern. We have stepped up patrols, we have our operational teams that have been deployed within the hotspots of Belize City and we continue to work with the public to ensure that these crimes are reduced and to have a better community.”
The sixteen year old minor has been charged with two counts of murder, attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm. Jacqueline Godwin for 7NEWS.
At the time of his arrest twenty one year old P.C. Gilbert Hyde Jr. had been with the Police Department for only four months. This afternoon, the sixteen-year-old minor who police say is the shooter appeared in the Belize Family Court where he was charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He was additionally charged with one count of use of deadly means of harm and once count of grievous harm. The minor was remanded to Hattieville Prison until his next court appearance on March nineteenth.
Meanwhile twenty two year old Ryan Felix, twenty one year old Albert Allen, twenty year old Earl Hamilton and twenty one year old P.C. Gilbert Hyde Jr. have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and were all remanded to Hattieville Prison until their next court appearance on February twenty sixth. Felix and Allen were additionally charged with one count of abetment to commit murder.
PC Gilbert Hyde is being defended by attorney Bernard Pitts. This afternoon in Magistrate’s Court, Attorney Pitts informed the court the police are pressuring one of the accused, Ryan Felix to implicate his client in the matter. Pitts also informed the court that he is prepared to make an appeal tomorrow at the Supreme Court for bail on behalf of his client.
