On Saturday, Belizeans "bruk weh" and jumped up in the Juveey and revelled in the road march for the first time in 2 years.
But, this weekend's return of the revelry was interrupted briefly by the non-fatal stabbing of two brothers from Belize City: 33-year-old Calbert Young and his 31-year-old sibling, Keon Young. Police say that at around 5:25 a.m., during the procession of the J'ouvert through Belize City Streets, they encountered both of the Young brothers suffering from stab wounds.
They told police that they were participating in the event when someone from inside the crowd attacked them. The assailant injured both men and disappeared back into the crowd. Here's more on the incident from the Deputy Head of the National Criminal Investigations Branch:
Sr. Supt Hilberto Romero, Deputy Commander, National Crimes Investigation
"On Saturday 3rd September, 2022, police responded to a stabbing incident at the corner of Majestic Alley and Queen Street. Upon their arrival, they found Keon Young and Calvert Young with stab wounds to the body. They were rushed to the KHMH where Keon Young was treated and released and Calvert Young was taken for surgery and he remains at the K.H.M.H. in a stable condition. Information is that they were both walking in that area when they were attacked by a male person who inflicted the stab wounds to them. They were part of the carnival J'ouvert that was taking place at the time."
Reporter
"Any idea what led to this incident?"
Sr. Supt Hilberto Romero
"We do not know. We know that there were crowds of, a lot of persons in the area and at some point they were attacked and stabbed."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, is it of concern to you that you had police officers that were watching these events and the share size of the crowds, it was not enough to be able to act as a deterrent for a crime like this one."
Sr. Supt Hilberto Romero
"There were police officers at the event. Some were at the front, some were at the back and some were around the crowd, but somehow this person, there were a lot of people there so he managed to get inside this large crowd and he inflicted the stab wounds to these persons."
Daniel Ortiz
"Is there any information as to maybe a prior fight or quarrel between the victim and?"
Sr. Supt Hilberto Romero
"Not that we know of, we are not sure why they were stabbed."
Both men were admitted to the KHMH in stable condition.
