Belize City had not seen a murder since July 9th. up until Friday night, October fourth. It happened on Antelope Street Extension where just after 10 on Friday night 28 year old Gary Pratt was killed inside a yard. Thing is, he wasn't even the target! Pratt had come to Belize recently to start working, plus he was working on a book of poetry. But on Friday night, trouble found him - with a bullet that had someone else's name on it. The Police investigator from Precinct two told us more:...
Insp. Calbert Flowers, Investigator Precinct 2
"On Friday 4th October 2013, sometime around 10:15 pm police officers from Precinct 2 visited the KHMH where they observed the apparent lifeless body of a male person later identified to them as Gary Pratt, a 28 year old male Belizean of a Punta Gorda Town address."
"He was suffering from 2 apparent gunshots to the back. Initial investigation reveals that Pratt was standing in a yard on Antelope Street Extension with some other people when he was approach from behind by a male person who fired several shots in his direction; two of which hit him in the back causing the fatal injury. He was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, however, he was pronounced dead on arrival."
"Police has since launched an investigation and one person is detained pending of this latest homicide."
"The motive has not yet been ascertained. We are trying to ascertain whether or not Pratt was the intended victim in this case."
A friend of Pratt's told us about the confusion surrounding his death. He asked to speak off camera:..
Voice of: Friend of Gary Pratt
"He is a person who doesn't go out because he is a village boy. He had just text me and told me that the baby was crying. When I came he wasn't here. I found my brother here."
"According to what I heard he went to buy a piece of "fonto.' He was at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Nobody wants him dead. He is a cool person. He came to look for work and he got the job; he was busy working. He is not a person that hangs out like that."
Monica Bodden
"He is originally from down south?"
Voice of: Friend of Gary Pratt
"Yes, from PG. He was writing a poem book and trying to get it publish but he ended up dead, so he hasn't gotten to that point. He had all his stuff together; his flash drive with the documents he was trying to get it edit. He was also selling newspaper before he died."
"He wanted to work, so he went to KREM and they gave him newspapers to sell and then he got a job at the Civic center. After he came from the job at Civic he went to sell newspapers - he was busy before he died."
So far police have detained a Belize City man for questioning as their investigation continues. It should be noted that in 2006, Pratt had been charged for the 2003 murder of Brandon Borland Reneau in Punta Gorda. He later got off that charge after serving some time in jail.
Since then, Pratt had reformed; as we said he was working on a book of Poetry and had recently come to Belize City for a job. He was working at the Civic Center site and selling newspapers.
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