The city went crazy this weekend. 3 men were murdered in 36 hours, 4 others were shot, even a police constable was grazed by a bullet. And it’s not only this city that was wild. There was also a murder in the capital city and the remains of two apparent murder victims in Cayo and Orange Walk. A staggering toll of violence – almost all of it gun related. We begin in the city where Jacqueline Godwin found out about two men who were killed, as acts of retaliation.
Jacqueline GodwinReporting,
The first life to be taken was that of twenty four year old Leon Sutherland. According to Shian Ireland her common law husband had left the house only fifteen minutes to buy bun she received word that he had been killed. Around seven fifty on Friday night Leon Sutherland was riding his bicycle when he was gun down
at the corner of Vernon and Partridge Streets. Two of the four bullets struck the victim to left side of the face and back.
Shian Ireland, Common Law Wife of Murder Victim
“I didn’t know they would do that. Leon is a cool humble honest person. He was a borrowed angel, that is what I have to tell everybody out there. Leon always felt that they would chance me before he and I didn’t know they would have chanced Leon before me. I feel like I am the man and he was the woman. In my heart I feel that. God has a long rope di wait, that is what
I want to tell all of them. You will heng yourself with your rope which you took far, you heng yourself with it. He didn’t trouble people.”
Reports are that Leon Sutherland never got to see his killers who are believed to be at least three young men who approached him from behind.
Shian Ireland,
“Leon rest in peace, your love is still on earth. Just fly in the sky with white wings baby and stay here and look over your family and look over my family. It reminds me of when they killed my brother in Lion King, when they stabbed Jermaine Ireland to death.”
The second victim to die is twenty nine year old Karim Harris. He was killed just after two on Sunday morning as he rode his bicycle on Lottie Waight Street. The plastic cup he was holding at the time remains in the spot where he was murdered.
Sheree Harris, Sister of Karim Harris
“All we know is that he was coming home from a wake and he was on the back street from the hospital and my mom heard the gunshot and that was it.”
The police strongly believe that the murders of Leon Sutherland and Karim Harris
may be linked to an ongoing rivalry between three groups of young men.
Supt. Edward Broaster, Executive Director – CYDP
“Young persons from the Mayflower area and as well from the Back-a-town and St. Martin’s area. Concentrated between two specific groups of young persons that we know of.”
Shian Ireland,
“I don’t know about that. I don’t know about that but Leon was not a gang banger. Leon dah noh a gang banger. I know that. Leon was not a gang banger.”
Sheree Harris,
“We don’t know anything else what happened.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
He was on his way home?
Sheree Harris,
“On his way home from a wake.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And he was on a bicycle?
Sheree Harris,
“Yes a pink beach cruiser.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And what, somebody approached him?
Sheree Harris,
“All I heard is that it was a drive by. Some guy in a vehicle shot him, I think it was about six gunshots. They said six gunshots.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you know if your brother had any enemies?
Sheree Harris,
“I don’t really know anything. I don’t really know anything because he only comes home eat, then go back, come back, rest. He always makes sure he is home in the night. On weekends he hangs out a little and then he comes home.”
While three persons are in custody for the murder of Leon Sutherland, police
continue to look for those who killed Karim Harris.
Julio Valdez, Commander – CIB
“Yes we do have some suspects, we are following some leads and as soon as that is materialized and the evidence is put forth then we will be dealing with them but yes we have some suspects. Yes we have some leads and presently as we speak we are following them up. We have some leads in both shooting incidents.”
According to the Executive Director of the Conscious Youth Development Programme Edward Broaster they are no able to confirm if the murders are connected to disturbing reports they have received that links influential individuals to violence unfolding on the city streets.
Supt. Edward Broaster,
“We are talking about influential persons who are business persons and that is all I will say to that effect. We are investigating the matter and the police will be doing their investigation as well and we will deal with the matter as the need arise. The alleged report that we have received, we have passed it to the police and they will be investigating that matter and when that matter is thoroughly investigated then we will know."
David Henderson, Head of Eastern Division
“Police will be out there in full operation to ensure or to really suppress whatsoever retaliation there might be. Police officers will be posted along with BDF personnel in all the hot spots and we will be operating throughout the city. I would not want to get into specifics but police will be posted at all areas where it is believed that things are likely to occur.”
