The New Year's Eve violence started in the city just after 6:00 on Wednesday night. That's when Ian Arthurs was killed not far from his home. We got two sides of this story from police and his family today:
This morning Cheryl Arthurs stood at the corner where her baby brother, 45 year old Ian Arthurs was murdered on Friday night and her daughter Sherlyn Butler was shot. She was looking for answers - how could it have happened just a few hundred feet from home? And to a brother she knew for his light-hearted personality:
Cheryl Arthurs, Sister of Deceased
"Ian is my baby brother. Ian is not a troubled person. Ian can't even kill a fly. Ian killed nobody."
Jules Vasquez
"Why was he targeted?"
Cheryl Arthurs, Sister of Deceased
"Ian was targeted, I guess, because maybe because you said the area where we live in and because of Ian's friends."
At 6:20 pm, he was driving a pickup at the corner of Kraal and Faber's Road. He had come to a stop when a gunman pulled up from behind on Motorcycle and shot him multiple times through the driver's side window - also injuring his niece, who he was getting out of the passenger seat. He died shortly after arriving at the hospital - while she was treated and released for a gunshot that penetrated the left side of her chest.
Tensions in the area - which is a nexus between rival gangs - had been high since Monday when this Mercury Mariner was shot multiple times on an adjoining street.
Jules Vasquez
"Was this a retaliation for that shooting which happened on the morning of Monday, December 29th?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"The investigation is ongoing. What I will say is that that incident is being explored as being one that is connected to this one. And we have certainly regarded this shooting, which resulted in the death of Mr. Arthurs as a gang related incident."
But, knowing the tension in the area, did police fail to respond adequately to prevent the New Year's Eve murder?
Jules Vasquez
"Since they had the incident on Monday the 29th, should the police have stepped up presence and patrols in the area, particularly in that tight border between Kraal road turf and SSG turf to avoid a retaliation?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"I don't know. I cannot say that there was a failure on police part, police's part, because as you would know, very small opportunity needs to present itself for these persons who have criminal desires to effect them. Police officers were in the area and were able to respond within a reasonable time, and they also apprehended one person who was detained in connection to this incident."
His sister says it's only the police who have labelled her brother a gang member:
Cheryl Arthurs, Sister of Deceased
"I will boldly put the blame on the Belize Police Department because they label my brother being a gang member. A 45-year-old man being a gang member. It is very ridiculous. It's them who label him that, put he has, then put a charge on him being member for gang."
"They know why they put the charge on him. They know that was a bogus charge. They know Ian Arthurs is not a gang member. They knows that very well."
Jules Vasquez
"Your brother have links with SSG and because of that, he's labeled as SSG. What would you say in response to that?"
Cheryl Arthurs, Sister of Deceased
"Definitely negative and definitely no. My brother hang with them, yes, we we will not say no. He hang with them and they are his friends, but he not a part of no SSG gang and they know that."
"The police know that, but because they know he hang with them, they cannot tell my brother, they can't tell me, they can't tell you, Jules, who to hang with, can they? No. So that is the problem."
Jules Vasquez
"So my might he have been targeted though, because maybe they couldn't get to who they want to hurt in SSG, whoever shot him, then couldn't reach them people there and they decide you can't catch Harry, they catch his shirt."
Cheryl Arthurs, Sister of Deceased
"Well, I don't know, I don't want to say nothing about that because I don't know of nothing where they want to kill them. I can't say that part, but I could talk for my brother and I could talk a million times for my brother."
"My brother is not no gang member. My brother don't kill nobody."
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"The reasons why we believe that it is gang related is because of the area where it occurred, as well as the fact that, as you stated, it is a vehicle that is tied to a gang that operates in that area."
"I will also say that Mr. Arthurs is currently, well, at the time of his demise, was before the court, had a matter before the court in related to being a member of a gang. And he has also been convicted in the past for possession of prohibited firearm."
But for his big sister, Ian Arthur's was none of those things.
Cheryl Arthurs, Sister of Deceased
"My brother is a friendly person, he dosen't bother no one. Everybody know Ian. He is punta king. They call him Punta King. They call him ladies man. Because they know he like lots of ladies. And the next thing, when they say hustle, he is a hustler. He will hustle, however. He will hustle like there is no hustle. That is him, we name Arthurs. We work hard in the streets, you understand me."
"Like right now, I am crying, but knowing him, he would say, um, girl, Cheryl, stop cry. Why you the cry for sister? Stop crying, stop cry. You know. I want, stop crying, but I want him to get up for a where he is too."
"I want my brother to get up. My brother is my life Jules, they tear me apart. Jules they tear me apart, they tear me. To be very honest, they tear me apart."
And now the threat of retaliation could tear at this community with tensions high in a tight zone.
Jules Vasquez
"Will police be able to effectively supress retaliatory measures between this escalating conflict that is unfolding between rival gangs in a very tight geographic area?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"We have put into place and have always been putting into place operational efforts as well as community policing efforts. But I want to remind the members, the general public, especially those persons living in that area, that they also play a role when it comes to citizen safety and security."
One well known gang figure from the area has been detained.
