7 News Belize

Great 08: Putt Putt Massacre
posted (December 31, 2008)

[Air Date: February 11th]

2008 turned out to be one of the most violent years on record registering – up to yesterday – 94 murders, 17 more than the previous year.  But it's more than just gun violence, there was in this year's violence a sort of utter lawlessness, a complete lack of concern for general public safety.  Seems to us that the first massive attack happened at at Putt Putt on February ninth – just as folks were out celebrating the election victory:

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Three days after being accused of committing unprecedented acts of violence in the country, Roy Felix, also known as Roy Bennett, Jason King and Charles Moss were handcuffed and taken over to Belize City Magistrate's Court. Around two forty five on Saturday morning patrons of the Putt Putt Bar and Grill were inside dancing and having a good time when the sound of gunshots erupted.

Voice of Shooting Victim Philip Neal,
"That just happened sudden so everybody started to run. I slipped down and by the time I got up, in the spot was bloody and thing, people were on the ground, and then I conscious I got shot."

Two gunmen, who had positioned themselves to the side and rear of the compound, opened fire inside the crowded establishment. Two of the bullets struck the upper left arm of seventeen - year old Philip Neal.
Neal who did not wish to appear on camera says he was talking with a friend and then the next thing he knew people were screaming and there was an overwhelming odor of gunpowder.

Voice of Shooting Victim Philip Neal,
"It was just like, it was one quick thing just started to bust and everybody could try to run for cover and thing."

But as Philip Neal managed to make it outside one of the bullets found its mark into nineteen-year-old Deandra Zetina. Zetina was on her first work day back at the establishment and was seated behind the bar when the shooting started.

Indira Adolphus,
"It is just sad, it hurts. We didn't expect she would die like this because she is sick otherwise with sickle cell anemia and she ended up in the hospital just before Christmas with it and we didn't think she would die from a gunshot."

Indira Adolphus says she understands that her younger sister tried to get out of harm's way but she was hit to left side of the chest and died shortly after arriving at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Ten other people received gunshot injuries. According to assistant commissioner of police and the officer in charge of Eastern Division Allen Whylie, a police officer who was on duty in the area responded by firing back at the armed men.

ACP Allen Whylie, Commander – Eastern Division
"A police officer who was at the night club took out his license firearm and fired several shots in the direction of the gunmen which caused them to cease and run off by jumping over the fence which was located to the rear of the compound."

As the gunmen who are believed to be Jason King and Charles Moss managed to get away and the injured were rushed to the KHMH five of the people who were at the Putt Putt Bar and Grill left the establishment. But fifteen minutes later they too would soon come under fire.

ACP Allen Whylie,
"Were all walking over the Bel-Can Bridge after leaving the Putt Putt Nightclub when they were approached by a dark in color Toyota Car which stopped beside them and a male person who was identified as Roy Bennett of a Gill Street address exited the vehicle and fired several shots at them."

Seventeen-year-old Michelle Cattouse was hit in the chest, left knee, heel and thigh. She died shortly after arriving at the Karl Heusner memorial hospital. Later that morning around four fifteen more gunshots were fired at another group on Raccoon Street Extension.

ACP Allen Whylie,
"When they approached by one Leroy Ramsey who is an associate of the George Street group with whom they had a previous misunderstanding earlier in the Princess compound. Ramsey pulled out a firearm from his pants waist and fired shots."

Sixteen year old Clinton Broaster was hit as well but he is recovering from his injuries. Belize City Police believe that the three shooting incidents are not only connected but are gang related. According to police investigation the shooting is the result of an ongoing feud between rival gangs George Street Crew and Back A Town.

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams, Deputy Commander – Eastern Division
"What makes us believe that the incident at the Putt Putt Bar and Grill is somewhat related to the incident on BelCan Bridge is due to the fact that those persons who were shot on Bel-Can Bridge were associates of those persons from the Back-A-Town area and they were shot whilst on their way from Putt Putt after the incident occurred. So in retaliation, the group from George Street may have passed by and sighted them, knew their affiliation and as a result of that they shot at them. The third one likewise again is because of the same thing, the person was also coming from Putt Putt, that person is associated with the other group and again, the person from George Street shot that person likewise."

Reports reaching 7NEWS suggest that a hit had been put out on a Back A Town affiliate. But Back A Town made a pre-emptive strike on George Street captains that were at Putt Putt.

ACP Allen Whylie,
"A group of persons from the George Street area were socializing at the Putt Putt Bar & Grill during which a group of persons from Brick City, St. Martin's Deporres area, were seen passing in front of the said nightclub, some of whom were later seen going behind the establishment."

While the suspects Jason King and Charles Moss made a quick get away in a vehicle, police caught up with them on Jasmine Street.

ACP Allen Whylie,
"The police upon stopping that vehicle saw King exited the vehicle and he threw a bag, which was later recovered by the poi8ce. That bag contained two nine millimeter pistols along with 15 nine live rounds of ammunition. Also found on King as a result of a search, in his pocket was the matching magazine for one of the nine millimeter pistols, which was empty, along with a mask."

Jason King and Charles Moss have both been charged for the murder of Deandra Zetina including nine counts of attempted murder. King has been additionally charged with 2 counts of kept unlicensed firearm and 1 count of kept ammunition without a license. Mean while Roy Felix, better known as Roy Bennett has been charged with the murder of Michelle Cattouse, 4 counts of attempted murder, 4cts of dangerous harm and 4cts of use of deadly means of harm.

Indira Adolphus,
"I won't sit here and say God forgive them because they don't have any heart. From the time they just do that, gone into a crowd of people and shoot up – they didn't care and if they don't catch all and if their parents are there, maybe they don't know how I feel but they will find out soon or later because what goes around comes around."

Clarine Young, Grandmother of murder victim
"The last time she came and tell me she would go to work. I asked her if she was going back to Putt Putt and she said yes. She said it had just opened so she was going back. She looked pretty pretty that night. She was dressed in her white pants, and her hair was nicely fixed up. Her nose and everything was just sharp. I told her to take care."

The shooting has also left an entire neighborhood shaken. According Dr. Atanascio Cob who lives directly behind the Putt Putt Bar and Grill this time it was too close to home where some of the bullets penetrated the walls of his kitchen and living room.

Dr. Atanascio Cob, Neighbour
"The first thing that I thought was that maybe my children would get up and come to my room so I rushed to my baby's room and he was already awake, very frightened and I told him to please don't get up because everything is okay. We have about three identified areas where the house was shot and two areas where the bullets actually went through the house. I think this is the worse that it has ever happened because there are commonly gunshots in the morning in the neighborhood around Putt Putt but this time I think it is the worst ever and probably the worst for Belize where so many people were hurt and so many people were endangered."

Beverly Gallaty, Neighbour
"Actually we are used to a ritual of it because my daughter already knows to roll and hit the ground and make it out of her bedroom, because she is in the front bedroom, and it was just really very close. It is almost every weekend that we live basically in fear. Actually to be quite frank, I would like for them to close it for the safety of all the people that live here and all of us have kids. We're basically right now prisoners in our own homes, we're too scared to leave."

Jacqueline Godwin for 7NEWS.

And that sort of unmetered violence would continue throughout the year with rashes of shooting, retaliatory violence  and the police's long awaited admission that yes, gang violence was behind most of it. 

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