Around nine twenty five last night, a series of gunshots rang out in
the Lake Independence area. It was an exchange of gunfire between the police
and the passenger in a dark colored Trooper that has been identified as the
vehicle owned by Police Constable Moguel. Police would not comment on whether
PC Moguel was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident.
The police mobile was patrolling on La Croix Street when they saw the
Trooper with no license plate number known to be PC Moguel's property. Police tried to stop it and parked across the street to block it. But the Trooper went around the police pickup truck
and as it got away, that’s when the police say someone inside the Trooper
started firing shots at them. The police responded and the Trooper sped off.
At the scene police recovered four expended nine milimeter expended shells.
Nearby the police also found nine milimeter expended shells on Holy Emmanuel
Street.
But so far Belize City Police have been unable to locate the vehicle
however they have detained its owner twenty six year old PC Delmar Moguel and
Darren Banks. It is not clear why the gunman shot at the police but it has left
area residents very shaken especially Jisela Arnold. That is because one of
the bullets entered Arnold’s Residence and just missed the mother’s
two children who were sleeping in their bedroom.
This morning one of the children discovered the slug. It had fallen
on the curtain that hung from their bedroom window. Jisela Arnold, who lives
on La Croix Street did not want to appear on camera because she feared for her
life but did speak to us about what it was like for the family.
Jisela Arnold, Witness
“I heard about eight shots and I was in my kitchen with my husband.
And when I heard that, all I tell my husband was to go to baby’s room.
That’s all.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
They were sleeping at the time?
Jisela Arnold,
“Yes. After that I heard some next gunshots in front of my house and
I heard about eight or nine gunshots and after that I heard my window break
and then I noticed they shot my house and I don’t know who was shooting.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
The bullet actually penetrated the wall that separates your room from your children’s
room. How scared were you for your kids?
Jisela Arnold,
“I am very scared and I am trembling and all because I said how can
this happen in a residence like this. How can this happen.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you believe the police should have responded?
Jisela Arnold,
“Yes they have to because then they were defending themselves so they
have to.”
This is not the first time that PC Moguel has been linked to his associate
Darren Banks.