And what you saw at that house on Caesar Ridge Road is just a microcosm of a larger city-wide police crackdown on gangs. After all, today's shooting effectively defanged operation Jaguar, and we realize that the sense of security it had lulled city residents into for the past four weeks was, at worst, false and at best, too fragile to last.
Late this afternoon, police press officer Fitzroy Yearwood told us what police are doing to make sure that the Andre Trapp execution does not spawn a string of retaliatory shootings.
Jules Vasquez "Do you all believe that is gang related?"
Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Well we are still trying to establish the motive for this murder so it would be unfair for us to say that it is gang related. We need to establish the motive first whether it is in fact related."
Jules Vasquez
"One person was intercepted at that scene. Would you explain who that person is? What are the circumstances of his arrest?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"Because we need to do an identification parade I cannot identify that person. Yes he is detain and we are still seeking another suspect in relation to this murder."
Roland Parks, Reporter
"This person that you have, will he be charge for this morning's murder?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"Well that will be up to the investigators at the concluding of their investigation or sometime within their investigation. Right now I know that the investigators are still back on the scene. They are still trying to put together the evidence and hopefully we would be able to charge soon."
Roland Parks
"These two assailants were in [Fitzroy Yearwood, Green Ford Ranger pickup with Stann Creek license plates]."
Roland Parks
"Have you been able to determine if the license plate is a valid license plate or stolen license plate?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"Well all that our investigators are doing, they are trying to establish the owner of that vehicle. That's a part of the ongoing investigations."
Roland Parks
"What is the police doing to prevent an escalation of violence in the city?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"Well we have our various operations in the streets and we have yes step up our patrol yet another notch."
Jules Vasquez
"Will there be a city wide crackdown on gangs? We saw a very aggressive activity today by it seem I don't know if they are members of Operation Jaguar, BDF and police at the Trapp home on Caesar Ridge Road this afternoon. Is this happening in all known gang areas?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"Well all known gang areas in Belize City. Like I said Jules we have to look at this from all angles and if it means that we have to do a crackdown we have to do that."
Jules Vasquez
"But are you doing that?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"We are doing it."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you all taking aback by the audacity of this crime? there are anytime between the two courts 20 police officers there and you have 5 security guards at the Magistrate's Court as well. To perform an execution in a setting like that it shows absolute lack of respect for the law."
Fitzroy Yearwood
"Well Jules I cannot dispute your opinion but at the same time at least we have one person in custody and we are looking another. Because of this same audacity, knowing that in fact this area would have police officers."
A few notes: first, police believe that Trapp - who was appearing in court on a marijuana possession charge was seen by members of a rival gang who were also in court and seized on the opportunity to kill him off his turf in a courthouse where he cannot carry a weapon. That is just the theory of investigators at this time.
Those women we spoke to at Trapp's family home believe it is connected to the Rodwell Williams attempted murder. As we have reported, police believe that hit was contracted out to the Southside Gangsters and one of the men charged is a known SSG associate....
