The long Easter weekend was relatively peaceful in Belize City, but that brief respite ended with a violent murder this morning. It happened in the Port Loyola Area – which had witnessed two previous murders in the past three weeks. Today, the family of the latest victim told the media that all three killings could be related to an increase in gang activity in the area. 7news was on the scene:
Jules Vasquez Reporting
That is the scene that played out on Curl Thompson Extension this morning when Patrick Bevans's girlfriend rushed to the scene, followed by many of his ten sisters.
22 year old Bevans lay dead just 150 feet from his home. He was face down, amidst an array of bullet markers - we saw 9.
Walking on these crutches, he was killed returning from the store. His sister asked to appear off camera:
Voice Of: Ashanda Gonguez - Sister
"Apparently, he walked from this lane to that lane to exercise, but it looked like he wanted a piece of fonto to roll his weed this morning. He stopped right at the shop to buy his fonto, and when he came back, that's when they shot him from behind in the head. He was using those crutches when he was shot this morning, and they waited until he already turned his back, heading back home, and doing his exercise. So, that's not a gunman; he's a jumpy gunman."
At this morning's scene there was no consolation - just incredulity, tears and rage from the women of his family.
His mother, Roleen was visibly distressed as she witnessed her son's body being carried away.
The family has very little hope for justice:
Voice Of:Ashanda Gonguez - Sister
"When it comes to the police, I don't know what they say to the police because in the eyes of the law, none of them liked Bevans, and the way they will put it, it's just another black man who died, or just gang member who went down. So, that's it right there for him. Nothing will come out of it."
And if they have antipathy towards the law, it's because Patrick Bevans was shot at close range in the leg by a BDF soldier in January, 2014.
That shot destroyed his lower leg - and left him hospitalized for three months - during which time he was taken to court on crutches and charged for trying to steal the soldier's weapon - an M4 Carbine.
Voice Of: Ashanda Gonguez - Sister
"So, when they got on TV and said that he was trying to pull away a BDF gun, that's a total lie that they were saying."
Now, the family says they are waiting for what's next in an escalating gang war in the area:
Voice Of: Ashanda Gonguez - Sister
"It's men from the "Gaza", and they say that they are coming to take over Jane Usher. I don't know, so, I'd say that it's true. And it's only young boys, stupid young men trying to make a quick rise, trying to prove themselves to whoever that they can be a member of this "Gaza", and whatsoever. They're all little boys. When they come to Gonguez yard, they have to come "good" because only girls are here."
Police are aware of the escalation and are taking special measures to try and contain it. This morning they deployed a fully outfitted command center, situated next to the basketball court, 200 feet from the scene of this morning's murder, and 200 feet from the scene of a murder two weeks ago. Police see it as a mobile command center to normalize a crime ridden area.
ACP Miguel Segura - Commander, Eastern Division (August 28, 2013)
"We intend to use it where the problem is, to move in the area, and bring it to normalcy. And, it's an area that you give command and control to your resources on the spot."
We also saw bicycle patrols, a stream of mobile patrols, and a checkpoint at the entrance to the area on Jane Usher Boulevard. All that is welcomed in this tense hotspot, but residents say it doesn't count for much when the entire area doesn't have any street-lighting. We couldn't find one streetlight on any lamp-post in this neighborhood that has witnessed two murders in as many weeks. Residents says gunmen and darkness rule the night.
But, this morning they proved that they also rule the day.
Cpl. Jorge Lemus - Administrative Officer - Precinct 2
"At this time, the residents of Jane Usher Boulevard can be assured that we are putting our very best in that area to deter the crime."
Bevans was the father of one child.
Seven - 9 millimeter expended shells were recovered from the scene. Precinct 2 Police are questioning a number of persons. His family says he was a cousin of Troy Hyde who was shot three weeks ago on Central American Boulevard.
A few notes, first, police say Bevans was not using a pair of crutches at the time he was killed, while his family says he was.
Second, he was to appear in court tomorrow for the charge of theft of the BDF soldier's weapon, which is alleged to have happened in January. His family says he had eyewitnesses to fight the case.
Third, the murder happened on MS Street not Curl Thompson Extension as we said in the story.
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