And one man who doesn't want to be caught up in the state of emergency is Michael Maris Meighan. On Sunday he was named in a wanted poster for Monday's murder of gang figure Darren Banks. And the Pen Road resident says that since then his life has been turned upside down.
Today, he called his attorney to hand him into police but he called us first, and we met him at the courthouse:
After this murder on Monday evening, police went to the Sports Council where Michael Meighan works looking for him. They say he had been seen in the area:
Michael Meighan, Wanted by Police
"From that day me and my lawyer is trying to contact the investigating officers, we are contacting the police stations to try and see who is the officer and what is the situation for me to give in myself, because I am not running from no one, I am not hiding from anyone, I didn't do anyone anything."
Norman Rodriguez, Meighan's Attorney
"I made several calls; the first call was in to Queen Street police station where they told me yes he was wanted and that they gave me the name of the sergeant from Raccoon Street. I called 3 times that day and I spoke to different people. Well, I spoke to the sergeant a few minutes ago and he said that yes he attempted to return my call. I called on Friday, but it is so difficult sometimes to get the answers that you need."
Days passed and then this appeared on Sunday - Michael Meighan wanted for murder:
Michael Meighan, Wanted by Police
"That blaspheme everything. I lose my job, I lose my reputation, I lose everything. Then on the wanted poster, they put my address as an Ebony Street. I have never ever lived on Ebony Street. I don't even have family members in that area. I don't have any kind of involvement in the Martin's De Porres area. I don't have any family, no friends in the BLC area, in the PIV area - I have nothing to do with any of that. They are saying that according to them they saw the vehicle in the area. I mean, that's a work vehicle, I work in Belize City as a messenger. I drove all around Belize. They released that after they release their state of emergency. So you are telling me if you don't have any questioning for me and you all questioned me after the murder and you don't have any evidence to charge me - you will send me up in the state of emergency too? Which gang? I am not a gang member"
"I lose my job and all my reputation. I know people in politics and I know big people. I call those people and they don't want to answer their phones anymore."
Jules Vasquez
"I have to ask you point blank, do you know anything about any of these shootings, any of the murders?"
Michael Meighan, Wanted by Police
"No sir, I am not a gang member. I am not affiliated with gangs."
Jules Vasquez
"I see tears in your eyes."
Michael Meighan, Wanted by Police
"They are abstracting people. Then my whole life will change now, because those people who are that man's friend and family member, when they already blaspheme my name all over facebook, will left those things."
His attorney says he is taking him in to police - but Michael Meighan is in danger:
Norman Rodriguez, Meighan's Attorney
"He's in greater danger than he was 2-3 days ago. The good about it is that you have recourse in the courts, if you survive through. I am praying that he does, because listening to him, I would want to believe that he would be a fool to had gotten involve in a crime such as murder and do it so openly. Its a foolish thing, but he has to get through this, because at this moment I'm going to take him into the police station."
We'll let you know if and when Meighan is charged for murder.
