7 News Belize

Another Lake I Murder
posted (August 27, 2012)
Another man was killed in the Lake Independence area this weekend. We say "another" because since April - there has been sharp spike in crime in that area: resulting in at least six murders and about twice that number in shootings.

This weekend it continued with both a murder and a shooting - the victims were 20 and under.

We start with the murder of 20 year old Miraldo Alvarez - a Belama resident who was hanging out across the river from his home with a friend from Lake I when he was shot.

It happened at around 9:45 on Friday night near the Administration Building. Monica Bodden found out more today:..

Diana Enriquez - Mother- In-Law
"Friday night after 10 "Brado" was already in his bed. He and his friend "Jafet" was in his room, they were playing games and watching TV. They decided to go buy fry chicken; I was lying down in this chair here. When he and "Jafet" pass by going I told him not to go. He says that he is going to buy a fry chicken and I told him not to go because every night shootings happen back here. I told him that those boys are dodging anybody that they see they will shoot."

"He says that he will come back right now and he went. No sooner than he went you heard the shots. He didnt even reach the chicken place."

Monica Bodden reporting
Around 10 on Friday night - 20 year old Miraldo Alvarez had just left his mother-in-law's house with a friend to go purchase food.

While reaching at the junction with Mackenzie and Luis Street - two men ran out from inside this abandoned green bungalow house and fired at least 4 shots towards at them - one of those shots caught Alvarez to the left lower back.

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"When investigators visited the KHMH they saw him with a gunshot wound to the lower back area. Initial investigations reveal that Alvarez along with another friend were riding on separate bicycles on McKenzie Street in the St. Martin's De Porres area and upon reaching the junction of Louis Street they were approach from behind by two male persons who were in the area of the basketball court. One of the men pull out the firearm and fired several shots towards him, one fatally injuring Alvarez. Alvarez succumbs to his injuries a little after 10 at the KHMH whilst undergoing an operation."

In a press conference with the media this morning, police press officer Fitzroy Yearwood couldn't say conclusively if the murder of Alvarez was gang related.

Jules Vasquez
"Does that murder have the appearance of being gang related?"

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"Well the person that he was in the company of is from that area. We would want to say that it could be."

Diana Enriquez - Mother- In-Law
"He was not in the streets. He was somebody quiet and easy. If somebody calls him for work he would go and do the job. He was trying to make his own money to buy his plane ticket to leave Belize."

Marion Ali, reporter
"Word has it that your family has come under threats before and that the talk is that he was a part of a gang from the area - he or his colleagues."

Diana Enriquez - Mother- In-Law
"He and his colleagues were not in any gang. None whatsoever that we know of. He is a cool boy. All they do is play sports on the field. Mr. Cordel Hyde would help them out and he was going to school, he had finish school and was studying AC (Air conditioned) at Gwen Liz. He was friendly with everybody and anybody."

And for Alvarez mother-in-law, she is still trying to come to terms with the loss of a young man she considers as her own son.

Diana Enriquez - Mother- In-Law
"He and my daughter - those two are love forever. They were to get married right here in December. They had their plans. Just Friday they were talking about the pageant that she was entering in, the queen of the bay in the United States and he was telling her that she was the prettiest woman and that she has the body but that she didn't have the height for Miss. Universe, he told her that when she wins the pageant and come home that he would be proud of her."

Audra Andrews - Sister-In-Law
"I can't even level the upset that I have right now because as a shooting happens and somebody dies from gunshot the first thing that the people of police say that it was gang related and for one I know that my brother-in-law wasn't in any gang - just because it happens back here you heard that it was gang related. Yes they might have friends that are in gang, but it's not like they hang out with them or something like that. I know for a fact that my brother-in-law is not in any gang. I will not swear for him and say that he is good or he is an angel. But I know that he is not out there giving trouble - that I know for a fact. Really why they came to shoot him? I don't know and I would really want to know why. I just left him in here - he just went out there to buy and by the time I heard gunshot, I would never believe that he was getting shot."

"Everybody has their day, they might be rejoicing and feel happy about ot because they classify themselves as "bad boy," they classify themselves as they are in a gang "we bad, we this and we that." When their day comes I hope they are happy just like that because that man up at the top - he is the judge. For the police, I just want them to do their job and not hurry saying that it is gang related; dig deep and find what is starting these violence, find, really do something and don't hurry say that it is gang related."

So far police say they have one suspect detained for his murder and they continue to investigate. Police have one person detained pending charges.

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