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18 Year old Killed with Homemade Gun in Roaring Creek
posted (July 11, 2016)
And in the weekend's final murder, an 18 year old was gunned down yesterday in an area known as Another World in Roaring Creek. Now, despite the unrelenting city gang violence that threatens to spill over into rural areas or villages like Roaring Creek, this case does not appear to be as a result of gang warfare. Maleek Norris left his home around 2:30 yesterday afternoon to visit a friend but he bumped into a foe on the way - and shortly after he was dead. We traveled to Roaring Creek to find out why.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Maleek Norris spent most of yesterday morning cleaning his house. He took down the curtains, cleaned the windows and even hired a man to clear the yard. All this fixing up was for his mom. She is returning tomorrow from her 2 week vacation in the U.S. But Maleek didn't get to finish the house as he wanted to and his mom won't get to enjoy her spotless home with her son.

That's because he was shot a street away from his home yesterday afternoon. He took a break from all the housework to visit a friend and not too long after he left, his family got the shocking call.

Brenda Lee Jones - Grandmother
"My daughter's best friend called me. She said, Brenda they just shot Maleek and he's probably dead, by Kendra's house. I ran there but I didn't see my grandson. So, I called my son. I said where are you? They just shot Maleek. He said no mom you are lying because I just left Maleek home and how would they shot Maleek so quick? I said yes he just left from home."

The alleged shooter, who Maleek had a previous confrontation with, was sitting on this tattered sofa under his aunt's house when Maleek passed by. According to the man's aunt, he thought Maleek came to attack him and he pulled out his homemade shot gun on him.

Kendra Pech - Alleged Shooter's Aunt
"Maleek came and didn't pay anyone any attention. He was going on his way. It looked like Ashton must have thought Maleek was coming for him and Maleek must have thought Ashton was coming for him because they had their misunderstanding the night before. So, I thought Maleek probably felt he was coming for him so he pulled out his knife and Ashton ran back underneath the house because he probably felt that Maleek wanted to do him something. He probably wanted to protect himself. I then saw him pulled out a pipe out of the fence and put in a bullet and shot the Maleek. The poor boy fell on the ground."

The pellets hit Maleek on his hip and arm. He tried to drag himself off the street because his attacker was coming to shoot him again, but that is when his aunt screamed out and her nephew ran away. According to Pech, her nephew and Maleek had an issue over a bike and $10 and that is what led to Maleek's murder.

Courtney Weatherburne
"And this is all for a bike and money. Was it a fight or Maleek just took it from him? What exactly was the problem?"

Kendra Pech - Alleged Shooter's Aunt
"They had some misunderstanding that happened amongst their friends, it wasn't just with both of them."

But the police are also looking at another angle, a stabbing a couple weeks ago involving Maleek and the same alleged shooter.

Sr. Supt. Howell Gillet, OC, Belmopan
"The motive of this without you asking me, it seems that the deceased was involved in a stabbing incident with the accused that took place maybe a week or 2 ago. It was never reported to the Belmopan police. I am very sadden by that, because if we had known about it, we could have taken measures to stem what we saw happened yesterday so it's very unfortunate. We want to bring closure to it. I don't believe that we would have any serious reprisals, just by the basic fact that we will be able to have the accused in custody shortly after the incident occurred."

Although the police have the alleged shooter in custody and promise to bring swift justice for the family, nothing will be enough to fill the void that is left.

Voice of: Melissa Tamai - Aunt
"He was my nephew, I loved him daily. I could tell any if Maleek passed and yell Aunty Mel! I loved him. Maleek was like another son to me the way I love Maleek. The news really hit me hard. It's just sad."

Police detained the alleged shooter and have his homemade shotgun. Police expect to bring charges later this evening or tomorrow. We will keep you updated on this case.

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