7 News Belize

The Day After “Dre’s” Death
posted (June 11, 2010)
Nicoli Rhys is the young man who police caught near the scene of the Andre Trapp execution yesterday. He is still in police custody tonight and has not been charged for Trapp's murder. He is joined by one other person who has been detained. Police believe this second suspect was the other person who got out of the Ford Ranger and shot Trapp in the parking lot. Credible but unconfirmed reports say he was shot with two guns, a 38 and a .45 pistol.

And after that stunning execution in front of the seat of the judiciary, we were mildly surprised to see that today there was no additional security at the courthouse. Business proceeded as normal; many who work in the court were on guard but from what we could see there were no extra security measures.

Rachel Longsworth, Sister of Andre Trapp
"I never believe, well at least we were looking out for it, but then I never believe in front of the court house. Court house where all the policemen are. I do not believe. I know that it is a setup."

Monica Bodden
"Was it something that you guys expected to happen?"

Friend
"Well we know that people are after us. We didn't expect that in front of the court it would have happened like that."

Monica Bodden
"Was it something that you expected knowing, I mean, the gang affairs that Andre is involve in?"

Christine Swan, Wife of Andre Trapp
"To be truthful, I expected it someday; I will not say that I didn't expect it. But I didn't expect it so quick and the way it happen in front of court house, in front of a lot of police, I didn't expect it to happen right there."

Jules Vasquez, Reporting
And whatever was or was not his connection - the truth will probably never be known. All this community knows is that it has lost its godfather:

Andre Trapp Aunt
"It's a big loss for Yarborough. Some people claim say that he is bad but I see him good to a lot of people. He did a lot for a lot of people. If someone needs a pair of tennis or some money for school right now he would have give them. People talk bad about Andre, but knowing Andre back here, everybody know Andre back here. Andre treats everybody good back here. The other side they cant come back here to do stupidness, we could leave our things outside and nobody would thief anything from outside. Andre is a very good person. Maybe he did his thing but he is nice back here. "

Christine Swan
"Everybody knows Andre is a loving person. I will not say that he is not bad, but Andre had a lot of good in him. Andre always help people."

Friend
"He was a man that everybody looks up to and once anybody needs anything they would come to him you know. He would reach out to anybody. Anything from 1 dollar to 100 dollars he would reach out to them, so it's like a big loss."

Monica Bodden
"For most Belizeans they are familiar with him as one of the most notorious street figures in Belize City. Was he like that to you in your eyes?"

Christine Swan
"Not to me. People brand him that way because everybody respects him, everybody around here looks up to him because he handle everybody, he looks out for everybody, he will not leave you there if he knows you need help."

Andre Trapp was 24 and the father of two children aged 6 and two years old. He was a former student of SJC high school and ACC. When we spoke to him after a grenade was thrown in front of his home in the very early morning of January 11, he coolly brushed it off, saying whoever threw it was scared to have done it when everyone was sleeping.

Trapp's mother Elizabeth Longsworth was formerly very active in a community group but has been away for three years. No date has been set for the funeral...

And we had only mentioned it briefly last night, but it is of note that a few minutes before Andre Trapp was shot and killed in front of the courthouse, another person was shot while standing in his yard on Mayflower Street. 22 year old Nelson Henry was taken to the KHMH after suffering 2 gunshot wounds to the upper back. He says that he was just standing around when he heard shots being fired, and shortly thereafter realized he was shot. Police are still investigating.

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