7 News Belize

Mafia Style Hit At Mile 9
posted (May 30, 2016)
Last week Thursday we told you about the mafia style execution of suspected narco-trafficker Delmar "El Diablo" Guerra. It happened in El Paraiso village in the Corozal district - and cell phone video appearing now shows the gruesome desperation of those moments after he was shot multiple times - and his gun lay on the pavement.

Just 48 hours later, another mafia style strike played out, except this one was in Belize City and it is gang related. 22 year old Michael and 29 year old Richard Wallace along with their friend were shot at 8 times as they drove along the Western Highway. Police say it was a retaliatory attack. But who were the gangs involved? And what message were they trying to send? That's what Courtney Weatherburne found out today.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Saturday was family day at the Belize Central Prison. Many relatives and friends were there to spend some time with their loved ones. Among those families were the Wallace's.

Both Michael and Richard Wallace went to visit their under-aged brother who was charged for murder.

It was the first time that Michael went to see his little brother in the 2 months he has been there. But what began as a special brotherly reunion, ended in murder.

Richard Wallace was driving his brother Michael and close friend Edward Flowers in this white Nissan Altima. They all left the prison after 2:00. But as they were heading back to the city, 2 vehicles ambushed them near mile 9.

This Chevy blazer stopped in front of the Wallace's vehicle

While this SUV pulled up behind, blocking them in. That's when men from both vehicles opened fire on the Wallace's. Michael was shot to the head and body, while Edward Flowers ran away unharmed. Richard Wallace was also running away, but was run over by the Chevy Blazer as he tried to escape. Even after that, he still got away.

The shooters also scrambled off leaving the blue Blazer parked here near mile 8 in front of Prosser Fertilizer.

And the others who were in the white Infinity SUV ended up in the bushes near the Softy toilet Paper Factory at mile 13. They lost control of the vehicle as they were speeding off, trying to escape. Police believe there was another vehicle in position to pick up the shooters from both vehicles and that they may have one of the shooters detained.

ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Easter Division Rural
"We believe that there was a 4th vehicle involved which picked up the suspects from both the Infinity and the blue Blazer. We have a suspect in custody who was taken off the bus in Belize City and we believe that he's a significant person of interest to this matter that we are investigating."

But what would provoke such a mafia style killing? Police say it was in retaliation for the April murder of Gerald "Shiney" Tillett in Dangriga. Police won't go much into details but the main link is that the Wallace brothers are believed to be associated with the South Side Gangsters - the same group that is in rivalry with the deceased Shiney Tillet's crew: the George Street Gang.

ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Easter Division Rural
"From initial investigation, we believe that this is the retaliation of what transpired with Gerald Tillet in Dangriga. I am not going to go in details at this time with respect to that aspect, but I can tell you from the initial investigation it has a direct correlation with the death or Gerald Tillet."

Reporter
"So where are these persons from? Mr Wallace, South Side as in Port or South Side Gang?"

ACP Edward Broaster, OC, Eastern Division Rural
"South Side Gang."

But regardless of those gang connections, the mother of the Wallace brothers told us that although her sons don't have the best reputation, they had nothing to do with Shiney Tillett's murder.

Irene Wallace, Mother
"I won't swear for none of my kids, because they are not angels and the biggest gang is the police. Micheal and they had nothing to do with Shiney's death."

But no back and forth or arguing about what the Wallace brothers did or did not do, will bring Michael back to his family. Mother Irene Wallace says she will move on with the good memories of her son, mingled with the tempting possibility of revenge.

Irene Wallace, Mother
"Well Michael was very friendly, liked to joke around and was very responsible, upstart at the same time. He and I would go at it back and forth but he would always come back and apologize and try to buy or do something to say 'I'm sorry mommy'. He was very responsible and he was like a father to my younger kids also because he looked out for them and they looked up to him. It was only 3 of them in that car and they brought 3 vehicles and ambush 3 of them in the car. This nonsense about people shooting back or they had an argument, they were only watch-dogs but they know who they are. Believe-you-me, I will laugh because they will go down one by one. That will happen because they will can't take how they will start to behave."

As we told you, police have one person detained who they believe was one of the shooters. Also, in an odd twist, yesterday a person went to the Hattieville police station to report the Infinity SUV stolen but all the police could say was that the report was incomplete and the person was not detained. Police continue to look into the ownership of the 2 vehicles involved in the shooting. Now In terms of the 3rd vehicle that came along and whisked all the shooters away, police do have a description and are looking for that vehicle.

ON a final note Richard Wallace, who was run over, is at home but complaining of chest pain. His brother Michael Wallace died yesterday from shots to his head and body. He was the father of a 1 year old girl. Michael is the 3rd son that mother Irene Wallace is burying: the first was Charles Wallace who was gunned down in 2004 and Andrew Wallace who was shot and killed by a Police Constable in 2005. He was only 13 years old at the time.

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