We turn now to a scary video that started whipping around WhatsApp chat groups this weekend. A group of Belize City men, known members of a criminal gang in the Martin's area, brazenly filmed themselves showing off with what looked to all the world like illegal firearms - equipped with extended magazines. In the video, they were boasting about their weapons and the hardware they allegedly have access to.
Their showboating on social media went viral and landed them on the radar of police anti-gang units, and tonight, those 5 men are facing criminal charges because of those videos.
They are 33-year-old Joseph Winston James, 29-year-old Sheldon Grinage, 32-year-old John Grinage, 32-year-old Hubert Baptist, and 35-year-old Brandon Baptist - all stalwarts of an area gang.
This morning, before police arrested them, we asked police spokesperson Fitzroy Yearwood to discuss their conduct in that video:
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Director of Communications, ComPol's Office
"That was sent to me yesterday by several friends, people who are concerned that these types of weapons are in the streets. I wouldn't be comfortable because, of course, their identities are makeable. I wouldn't be comfortable knowing that someone who lives in my neighborhood has a weapon like that, which could cause serious damages if used. We at the police department view this very seriously, and we have investigators looking, searching for these persons. And we're asking the general public, no bullet has an owner until it makes its mark, and we're asking you, we do not know whose life these could affect. It has to be a community effort for us to get these people."
Reporter
"Is that video strong evidence to be used in a conviction against them for a possibly unlicensed weapon or ammunition charge?"
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
"I am certain that when we get these persons involved and our investigation is concluded, we will seek advice from the DPP's Office, as to which direction, we should go. We are hoping that we can bring some charges against them to - how to say - discourage future videos of this nature from coming out. As you know, we are fighting tirelessly to bring the streets of Belize -not only Belize City, this entire country - to normalcy, where the public can be assured that their safety is of paramount importance."
Reporter
"One of the young men had an attachment on the bottom of the firearm; [it] looked like a bullet drum. Isn't something like that prohibited under the laws of Belize?"
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
"Yes, sir, it is a prohibited firearm, like I said, I will not stop until we find this firearm."
This evening, Joseph James, Sheldon Grinage, John Grinage, Hubert Baptist, and Brandon Baptist were all detained in a special operation within Belize City that began yesterday.
They have all been charged with the offense of being a member of a gang. Sheldon Grinage was separately charged with, quote, "Producing a video recording to gang-related and related activity". End quote. The other 4 were also charged with the offense of "Using a video recording to gang-related and related activity".
They will be arraigned in Magistrate's Court tomorrow morning.
