7 News Belize

17 Year-old Killed On Embattled B-Ball Court
posted (July 1, 2014)
On last night's news, we told you about the 3 shootings and 1 stabbing which took the lives of two Belize City men and left 2 others hospitalized - all within 72 hours.

But the city violence didn't end there. There was a shooting, which happened just after news time last night, which has claimed the life of a 17 year-old man from the Lake Independence area.

It happened on Brown Street, right behind the CB Hyde Government Building, and our news team arrived on the scene shortly after. Daniel Ortiz has the story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
17 year-old Myron Smith lay on the ground lifeless where he fell. He was fleeing from the shooters who attacked him, but he did not make it far. He was riding his bike on Brown Street, and he was in the company of 2 other companions. When they passed by the Complex Basketball Court, his assailants took aim at the crowd and fired 4 or 5 shots in their direction.

Smith was the only one who got hit, and he reportedly jumped off his bike, while trying to run for cover, his injuries caused him to collapse in side this yard, where he took his last few breaths in his cousin's arm.

Within a few minutes after the shooting, the residents in the area rushed to the scene, and police eventually arrived. All they could do, was process to process the area where another young life was tragically lost.

Alrick Smith says that he had a foreboding in the few minutes he saw his son ride pass his house.

Alrick Smith - Father of Deceased
"I just came home from work around 6pm - 7pm. My girl and I was on the verandah cooling off watching the news and I saw the young man that was shot in the vehicle and I told my girl that he is dead. I came outside just cooling out and I saw my little son just pass me and he didn't stop. First time he ever did that because he use to always come by us - he pass by and I think he went to buy a fry chicken at the Chinese shop. Later on my wife call him and ask him to come here, but he didn't look towards us, he just went head way. Later on while we were there I heard like 5 gunshots and I told Sandy (wife) that one out of those 3 got shot. I stayed on the verandah and I saw a crowd running. When I got there he was stiff - he had already died. My niece said that he was breathing, but when I got there he was already dead. I saw a gunshot in his head and one in his arm because he was full of blood."

Smith recounted to us that Myron was a troubled young man, with whom he tried his best as a parent. In the end, however, the teenager refused to heed any advice.

Alrick Smith - Father of Deceased
"I tried my best and talk to him. He was the only one in the family who just wanted to do his own things. Sunday night, my wife's people Mr. Casey lectured him for about an hour. The Serious Crime police told him that he was putting his brothers in trouble, behave yourself and on Monday this is what happened."

And now all this father wants is to bury his son, and let that be the end of the matter. Alrick Smith doesn't want to see a chain reaction of shootings to follow his Myron's death.

Alrick Smith - Father of Deceased
"Life goes on. I don't have anything with anybody to say that I have any problem or any beef with anybody. I just want him to lie in rest and that's it. I don't want to have any problems with anyone - just leave it to God."

3 weeks ago, 22-year-old Efrain Assi was shot multiple times while he was hanging out on that very same Complex Basketball Court.

Last night's shooting is the 4th to have occurred in the jurisdiction of Police Precinct 2, and it's one more in the spike in violence in the City. Today the deputy officer commanding precinct 2 told the media how police are responding to contain and curtail the violence:

ASP Calbert Flowers - Deputy OC, Police Precinct #2
"We have stepped up our patrols and we have begun some operations to try to combat this latest shootings within the city."

Reporter
"What is believe to be the motive behind this latest homicide?"

ASP Calbert Flowers - Deputy OC, Police Precinct #2
"We still cannot ascertain the exact motive behind this crime. We know that Myron Smith lives in that area and he is associated with persons in that area."

Reporter
"Possible gang related?"

ASP Calbert Flowers - Deputy OC, Police Precinct #2
"We cannot say. Myron Smith is not one of our regular gang person, but we know that he lives in that area and he may be affiliated with some of the guys in that area."

Reporter
"Do you believe that he was the intended target as he was along with two other persons?"

ASP Calbert Flowers - Deputy OC, Police Precinct #2
"We cannot say at this time, but he was certainly targeted and he was gunned down."

Police are asking the assistance of anyone in the area who may have witnessed the murder of Myron Smith to come forward with their information. They currently do not have any leads.

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