Today, we got a chance to speak with Floyd Jones, the coach of the football team, whose family yard was shot up. He told us that he is extremely disappointed that gun violence visited his family's home as a community activist that tries to reach at-risk youth through sports.
He made the point that his main agenda in the Lake Independence neighborhood has always been about football and basketball:
Floyd Jones - Football Player/Coach
"Well, we have our first division team, the Lake I FC, and yesterday we had the finals of the first Division closing season competition in the Belize District. We got second place, and we were proud because we worked hard, and the game was a good game. Kelly Street won, and kudos to them for when guys ended, and they did a good job."
Daniel Ortiz
"Unfortunately, all of that positive celebration turned the other way when a gunman came and shut up your yard."
Floyd Jones
"Yes, well, actually, we left from MCC and decided to corner my yard.rinks together because it was the end of the season and..."
Daniel Ortiz
"You came in 2nd."
Floyd Jones
"Yes, we came in second, and so for our teammate's time, we don't have money to pay anybody, but just for appreciation, we try to give back with some food or something. We were here, chilling, with positive vibes, and talking about the game. And in a split second, the cycle pulled up, two months by the cycle, and the passenger started opening fire on the yard. He never had any intended target. The entire yard was a target, you know, 10 to 12, nearly 15 shots that man fired in the yard. And that hurt me, my brother, because, you know, because I am a positive man, and it's something positive I am doing. And then, for that kind of violence to be coming to my yard, to my family, and for a man like me, I don't appreciate that. I can't tell you who was the intended target because as I told you the yard was crowded with the team. We had a couple of fans and people who are right from around the neighborhood."
Daniel Ortiz
"Anybody could have gotten hit."
Floyd Jones
"Anybody could have gotten hit at that time because, as I told you, the gunman focused inside the yard. His focus was solely inside the yard, not outside. Everybody gathers in my yard for only football, only sports, basketball, and football."
Daniel Ortiz
"Does this make you fearful of holding future events in your yard?"
Floyd Jones
"No, well, Mr. Daniel, it will not stop me. The struggle and the mission continue because we are here for a reason. All of these obstacles, we have to fight through them because when you are doing positive things, they try to fight it down in many ways. And I know the positive that I am doing."
