Last night, we showed you the comments from the Police Minister John Saldivar, who took a swipe at the media. He suggested that the press is responsible for the negative perception surrounding the current crime situation in Belize City.
But that perception became real for the family of 28 year-old Lionel Sampson early this morning, when gunmen attacked him will he was on a morning walk.
Police say that he was Racoon Street extension his assailants shot him multiple times in the upper body. Officers from Precinct 2 have been investigating his murder, and this afternoon, they briefed the media on the information they have so far:
Sergeant Ismael Westby - Crimes Investigation Branch
"About 6:24 there about this morning the 17th July 2014 - police personnel attached to the Precinct 2 visited Gravy Street on the Raccoon Street Extension where they saw the motionless body of a person who was identified as Lionel Sampson, 28 years old of a 31 Iguana Street Extension who was seen with multiple wounds to the upper part of the body. The person was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by the medical authorities. The scene was processed by the technicians where 5 expended shells of 9mm caliber was collected from the scene and that is where we stand at this moment with that investigation."
Rowland Parks, reporter
"Do you have any suspects in view of any motive for the killing?"
Sergeant Ismael Westby
"At this moment we have two persons detained in questioning in respect to the said incident and that is how we are looking at tis angle of this investigation this morning."
Rowland Parks, reporter
"Can you say if you have enough evidence against these two persons that perhaps one or both of them will be charged for this homicide?"
Sergeant Ismael Westby
"At this moment it's premature to look at. Evidence have to be gathered upon any investigation and at this moment that is what we are doing. We are investigation, we are trying to get whatever evidence possible in order to see whether the persons that we have detained are linked to the murder this morning."
Rowland Parks, reporter
"Can you say if the victim is a gang affiliated person?"
Sergeant Ismael Westby
"The victim have been well known to the law authorities and have been charged for many different crimes and also who have been involved in different gang activities in the past."
Reporter
"What was he doing when he got shot?"
Sergeant Ismael Westby
"The investigation is that he was walking on Gravy Street heading towards Raccoon Street Extension when a male person unknown at this moment approach him from behind and caused the said injuries on Lionel Sampson."
Today, we approached his family several times for an interview, but they declined.
Late this evening, the Police Press Office released additional details. That office reports that police personnel who quickly responded to the murder of Lionel Sampson caught a man fleeing the scene. He's currently in custody, and has reportedly been identified as one of the shooters.
Then at around 9:30, Police Quick Response Teams and the K-9 searched an overgrown area of Belisle Alley, in the Vicinity of King Street. There they found 2 weapons: a black and chrome colored 357 Magnum and a 9mm Taurus handgun with a magazine containing 9 live rounds. The weapons were retrieved and deposited as found property. It is believed that these unlicensed weapons belong to underworld personalities in that area.
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