7 News Belize

Why Was Malik Murdered?
posted (August 31, 2015)

So, Police in Belmopan have their hands full with those 3 murders, especially because one of their own stands accused – and more embarrassingly, he is one of only three officers in the entire country entrusted with the care of the Prime Minister's family.

But Belize City police also have their work cut out for them. After a brief lull in violence, 20 year-old Malik Dixon was killed on Saturday night in what looks like a gang slaying.

Dixon has been shot before, and he is on the record as associating with known gang figures in Ghost Town. But on Saturday night, his killer caught him off guard riding his bicycle on Flamboyant Street. He was heading home to Mahogany Street when a gunman opened fire on him. 2 bullets struck him in the lower back and under the left arm pit, and as soon as he fell off the bike, the gunman fled the scene.

Today, 7News spoke with both his mother and police about what they know so far about his tragic end:

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South

"On Saturday night, sometime around 8:30 p.m. there's about. Police received information about a shooting on Flamboyant Street in the St. Martin's De Porres area. Upon responding they were told that the person who had been shot has been transported to the hospital. Police later visited the hospital, KHMH; where they observed one Malik Dixon, 20 years, suffering from gunshot wounds. He later succumbed to his injuries and his body now lye at the KHMH morgue awaiting a post mortem examination."

Daniel Ortiz

"How are you managing being so strong?"

Melanie Staine - Mother of Deceased

"I have to the ya, I have two other sons and you; I have to be strong for them too."

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South

"Mr. Dixon was walking somewhere in that vicinity heading towards further down in the St. Martin's area, round the complex building; when he was met by a person, who is affiliated with the PIV gang. That person fired multiple shots at him, some of which caught him and resulted in his death."

Daniel Ortiz

"That sounds as if you have a suspect. Can you say?"

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South

"Yes, we have a person of interest we are looking for at this time. But we're not going to release the name of that person. But we expect that we should have that person in custody very soon."

Reporter

"Does this in anyway symbolise sort of a breakdown either in peace talks or a truce or what so ever it is that is going on within these groups in that area?"

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South

"I will not say that it symbolises a breakdown in terms of what we are trying to achieve with the different groups across Belize City. As I've said from day one; that we will be working with those who are willing to work with us. And those who want to continue to perpetrate criminal acts, and then we will pursue them. I must say that; the groups which we have been doing a lot of work, they have not done anything to show that they are not willing to work with us. And even in situations where their patience has been tested. Like for example, this current situation; the people from the Mayflower area, their patience are being tested. And despite that, I remain in constant dialogue with them and they have pledged that they are not going to retaliate; they will leave it for us the police to deal with. I would hope that they are serious about what they are saying."

Daniel Ortiz

"The way you speak of Mr. Dixon's death would suggest that he's connected with Mayflower, the Ghost Town gang. Is that leaking information?"

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South

"Yes he is connected with the Ghost Town crew. He's also connected to the Bakalang group, so he's connected to two groups."

Daniel Ortiz

"How do you deal with the fact that he was in that area which is a hot zone?"

Melanie Staine - Mother of Deceased

"Well, I really don't know what to say but; that's for he friends them. I just deal with it because then I can't; it's only so much you could talk to them, right."

Daniel Ortiz

"When you and he were to speak about the dangers of being in that neighbourhood; of being associated with those people, what would those conversations sound like?"

Melanie Staine - Mother of Deceased

"Well I always tell him say; you just have to be careful and only that we could do. Be careful and no go do the wrong thing. I always tell him no go rob people and they kind of thing because he's not those type there."

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South

"At this time I do not think that the past history of Mr. Dixon is an issue. He is a victim of a crime; whether or not he had been arrested by the police before is neither here nor there. The thing is that when he was shot, he was not bothering anyone. He was going about his own merry way and he was shot. I will not venture into trying persecuted him at this time. He's dead and I think what we need to do is to sympathize with the family and see how we could help them recover from this."

On October 10, 2012, Dixon was in a vehicle along with Ellis Meighan Jr. when 2 men opened fire on the vehicle. Dixon was hit in the lower back but survived..

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