For months now - there's been dangerous and escalating hostility between villages in the Belize River Valley. Young men from Bermudian Landing, Lemonal and Double Head Cabbage have been beefing with each other and we have seen one murder, many threats of death and various acts of lawlessness. Well, tonight there's another murder and a cop is among those detained for it.
I headed to Double head Cabbage this morning to find out more.
Dornell Talbert had just arrived in from the Caye, and was on the way back to his home here in Double Head Cabbage, when he was targeted at the entrance of Scotland Half Moon Village yesterday evening. The gunman opened fire from a vehicle and then sped off towards Bermudian Landing, and no less than an hour later, 26 year old Dornell Talbert a fisherman and father of 1 succumbed to his gunshot injuries while being treated at the KHMH.
It's another casualty in a bitter ongoing rivalry between two villages:
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"Investigations reveal that Darnell Talbert was driving a vehicle in the area when another vehicle pulled up beside him and someone from that vehicle fired several shots towards him causing his fatal injuries. We have since recovered that vehicle and several suspects are in custody for this murder. Interviews continue at this time."
Reporter
"Is one or multiple of these suspects police officers?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"There are a number of persons detained, that is all I will say."
Reporter
"Has there been a motive?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"This is a result of an ongoing rivalry with these persons in that River Valley area."
Reporter
"Does this stem from the previous rivalry that was there?"
ACP Hilberto Romero, OCED
"Yes we have information that it stemmed from the previous incidents."
And while police may end up charging one of their own, for the family left to mourn in Double Head - it was an unbelievable turn for a man returning home for the weekend after working on the sea:
Rita Talbert, Grandmother of Deceased
"Real Sad everybody start to cry. We broke down as we heard it about 4:00 it happened and everybody started to bawl and faint and thing because it hurts."
Shelma Broaster, Aunt of Deceased
"We had just left from a funeral because we had just buried a friend so we didn't expect to get a news like that so it's like really rough."
"He was going to a party but then he wanted to go to the carnival in Belize so he came and left from the party to come home and change."
"Yes he is a very handsome person. I didn't know him to get into any trouble with nobody just from work to home."
(2) 9mm expended shells were retrieved from the scene. Talbert's family described him as a calm and friendly person who would often bring fish for them whenever he came home.
Rita Talbert, Grandmother of Deceased
"We have a good relationship no quarrel no fights or nothing in the family."
Reporter
"How would you want to remember him?"
Rita Talbert, Grandmother of Deceased
"By his loving and kindness, he is loving he told us he brought in some fish so me and my oldest daughter were coming down to go that way and he told my oldest daughter I have some fish for you and granny and he said but I left it down by your step father so we did never get the fish."
Reporter
"Did he often bring fish for you guys?"
Rita Talbert, Grandmother of Deceased
"Yes, he treated us good."
Multiple persons including minors are detained.
We'll have an update for you when someone is charged.
