Tonight, police are on high alert as gang tensions soar following a lawless daylight murder. The brazen killing shattered the peace of the Saturday morning rush hour on Albert Street, unfolding in front of a crowded strip of pedestrians and traffic.
The victim: a 29-year-old father of three and a public officer, who was also the son of one of the city's most legendary gang figures, the now-deceased George "Juni Balls" Mckenzie. Jaleeza Roberts reports:
On Saturday morning, in the middle of the Albert street rush, Kiffer Mckenzie was targeted and killed in his vehicle with his two children in the back seat. It was his daughter's birthday and he was on his way to take her to get her hair braided when he was targeted by a brazen gunman on motorcycle.
It happened here at the corner of Albert and Orange Street where McKenzie was driving this blue Jeep Cherokee when the gunman pulled up and opened fire - hitting him multiple times - and grazing his daughter.
He accelerated won Albert Street to escape, but, he was injured too badly and here, at the corner with Bishop Street, he crashed into a parked car and came to a stop. Panic ensued in downtown as shoppers heard shots ringing out:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"A review of the camera system at the fusion center showed that Mckenzie had parked at the corner of Albert and Orange street when a male person who wore a face covering helmet came off a motorcycle and approached the vehicle and fired several shots which resulted in the eventual fatal demise of Mckenzie."
"Through the use of the technology at the crime fusion center, the investigators were able to trace what we believe to be the motorcycle that was utilized in the incident as well as the helmet shortly after the incident occurred. These items were processed by Scenes of Crime technician who were able to lift fingerprints from both the motorcycle and the helmet and they have also secured the helmet with a view to conduct further processing for DNA purposes."
His mother has now lost her only surviving son: In August 2007, her husband, legendary gang leader George Juni Balls Mckenzie, and then in August 2016 her older son George Mckenzie Jr was murdered. And now 10 years later, her last surviving son was murdered:
Aug.28th, 2007
"George Junie Balls Mckenzie was regarded with the type of awe usually reserved for only political leaders but tonight George Junie Balls Mckenzie former leader of the Ghosttown Crips is dead, Junie Balls was Killed last night in an execution style murder near his home in pinks alley."
"McKenzie Jr. was stabbed to death early Sunday morning at a soca concert at the ITVET according to Mckenzie's family, his brother and his sister in law. They were all enjoying the soca vibes when two men went top to Mckenzie and his crew wanting to start a fight the girls tried to make peace between the men and the guys left, only to return a couple minutes later to stab Mckenzie from behind as he was dancing with his girlfriend."
And trying to break this cycle of violence, the mother tried her best to get all her sons educated and away from a life where they were at risk. Kiffer had finished his associates degree and was set to start his bachelor's in August. He was a father of three and a valued employee at the Immigration Department. When we spoke with one of his relatives off camera, she said that he always took care of his people but the reputation of his father always found a way to precede him:
VOICE OF: RELATIVE OF KIFFER
"He was a hard working youth you know, work hard for his kids and his family. He has his little son, has his little daughter, has a little niece that he takes care of from his dad died. From his big brother died and he's the one who took over that father figure job for his niece you know, he takes care of his little niece and the man he give people work around here to do. When nothing is going on and thing, you can always depend on him to make an ends and make something happen for you. He wasn't a troublesome boy like how people are painting the man."
"Where you come from they label you as, you get the sense, just because you come out of a hood, you come of Majestic so that's how people paint you because you're from a hood, you know? Although you aren't carrying out those bad measures or doing a lot of simpleness that people are doing. Like I said, young boy he took care of everybody: when he eats, we eat you know? So it's just where he comes from."
Youth program coordinator Douglas Hyde knew Kiffer and his entire family - and remembers him as a natural leader who wanted change:
Douglas Hyde, National Youth Program & Public Relations Coordinator Office of the COMPOL
"He was this passionate positive youth, he did not want that gang life and many times he told me that this isn't the life I want, I son't want to be in my dad's footsteps. All of my life I wanted to do things different and better and I knew he was passionate about that, that he wanted to change his life and do better so when Kiffer graduated from 6th form and he actually got that job from immigration department, he was one of the most happiest dude I could ever recall. I went to his workplace couple times, to talk to him to visit with him and he was all excited to tell you what he was learning and how things were happening and going on with his life and stuff like that."
"And I know in his past he worked very closely with me in the William Dawson peace cup and the William Dawson basketball tournaments. He was very instrumental in bringing these guys together from Majestic alley to want to participate and compete in these competitions."
"I wanted to bring him on as a program coordinator to help assist when it comes to programs in the LIU because Kiffer has a influential-ness about him that he can bring some of these guys from the different communities together but also to look at how we can utilize persons like him to be part of the LIU better than what we have been doing for the past couple years."
Despite all the efforts to ensure he did not meet the same fate as his father and his brother, on Saturday the grip of gang violence found him - and in the most graphic way: killed in front of his children on Belize's main street.
Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
Police have since detained one person of interest in relation to the shooting.
His employer, the Ministry of Immigration has released a statement saying, quote, "Kiffer's commitment to public service, his professionalism, and his presence within our Ministry family will be remembered with respect and gratitude."
