[Air Date: February 11th]
2008 turned out to be one of the most violent years on record registering
– up to yesterday – 94 murders, 17 more than the previous year.
But it's more than just gun violence, there was in this year's violence a sort
of utter lawlessness, a complete lack of concern for general public safety.
Seems to us that the first massive attack happened at at Putt Putt on February
ninth – just as folks were out celebrating the election victory:
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Three days after being accused of committing unprecedented acts of violence
in the country, Roy Felix, also known as Roy Bennett, Jason King and Charles
Moss were handcuffed and taken over to Belize City Magistrate's Court.
Around two forty five on Saturday morning patrons of the Putt Putt Bar and Grill
were inside dancing and having a good time when the sound of gunshots erupted.
Voice of Shooting Victim Philip Neal,
"That just happened sudden so everybody started to run. I slipped
down and by the time I got up, in the spot was bloody and thing, people were
on the ground, and then I conscious I got shot."
Two gunmen, who had positioned themselves to the side and rear of the compound,
opened fire inside the crowded establishment. Two of the bullets struck the
upper left arm of seventeen - year old Philip Neal.
Neal who did not wish to appear on camera says he was talking with a friend
and then the next thing he knew people were screaming and there was an overwhelming
odor of gunpowder.
Voice of Shooting Victim Philip Neal,
"It was just like, it was one quick thing just started to bust and
everybody could try to run for cover and thing."
But as Philip Neal managed to make it outside one of the bullets found its
mark into nineteen-year-old Deandra Zetina. Zetina was on her first work day
back at the establishment and was seated behind the bar when the shooting started. 
Indira Adolphus,
"It is just sad, it hurts. We didn't expect she would die like
this because she is sick otherwise with sickle cell anemia and she ended up
in the hospital just before Christmas with it and we didn't think she
would die from a gunshot."
Indira Adolphus says she understands that her younger sister tried to get out
of harm's way but she was hit to left side of the chest and died shortly
after arriving at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Ten other people received
gunshot injuries. According to assistant commissioner of police and the officer
in charge of Eastern Division Allen Whylie, a police officer who was on duty
in the area responded by firing back at the armed men.
ACP Allen Whylie, Commander – Eastern Division
"A police officer who was at the night club took out his license firearm
and fired several shots in the direction of the gunmen which caused them to
cease and run off by jumping over the fence which was located to the rear of
the compound."
As the gunmen who are believed to be Jason King and Charles Moss managed to
get away and the injured were rushed to the KHMH five of the people who were
at the Putt Putt Bar and Grill left the establishment. But fifteen minutes later
they too would soon come under fire.
ACP Allen Whylie,
"Were all walking over the Bel-Can Bridge after leaving the Putt Putt
Nightclub when they were approached by a dark in color Toyota Car which stopped
beside them and a male person who was identified as Roy Bennett of a Gill Street
address exited the vehicle and fired several shots at them."
Seventeen-year-old Michelle Cattouse was hit in the chest, left knee, heel
and thigh. She died shortly after arriving at the Karl Heusner memorial hospital. 
Later that morning around four fifteen more gunshots were fired at another group
on Raccoon Street Extension.
ACP Allen Whylie,
"When they approached by one Leroy Ramsey who is an associate of the
George Street group with whom they had a previous misunderstanding earlier in
the Princess compound. Ramsey pulled out a firearm from his pants waist and
fired shots."
Sixteen year old Clinton Broaster was hit as well but he is recovering from
his injuries. Belize City Police believe that the three shooting incidents are
not only connected but are gang related. According to police investigation the
shooting is the result of an ongoing feud between rival gangs George Street
Crew and Back A Town.
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams, Deputy Commander – Eastern Division
"What makes us believe that the incident at the Putt Putt Bar and
Grill is somewhat related to the incident on BelCan Bridge is due to the fact
that those persons who were shot on Bel-Can Bridge were associates of those
persons from the Back-A-Town area and they were shot whilst on their way from
Putt Putt after the incident occurred. So in retaliation, the group from George
Street may have passed by and sighted them, knew their affiliation and as a
result of that they shot at them. The third one likewise again is because of
the same thing, the person was also coming from Putt Putt, that person is associated
with the other group and again, the person from George Street shot that person
likewise."
Reports reaching 7NEWS suggest that a hit had been
put out on a Back A Town affiliate. But Back A Town made a pre-emptive strike
on George Street captains that were at Putt Putt.
ACP Allen Whylie,
"A group of persons from the George Street area were socializing at
the Putt Putt Bar & Grill during which a group of persons from Brick City,
St. Martin's Deporres area, were seen passing in front of the said nightclub,
some of whom were later seen going behind the establishment."
While the suspects Jason King and Charles Moss made a quick get away in a vehicle,
police caught up with them on Jasmine Street.
ACP Allen Whylie,
"The police upon stopping that vehicle saw King exited the vehicle
and he threw a bag, which was later recovered by the poi8ce. That bag contained
two nine millimeter pistols along with 15 nine live rounds of ammunition. Also
found on King as a result of a search, in his pocket was the matching magazine
for one of the nine millimeter pistols, which was empty, along with a mask."
Jason King and Charles Moss have both been charged for the murder of Deandra
Zetina including nine counts of attempted murder. King has been additionally
charged with 2 counts of kept unlicensed firearm and 1 count of kept ammunition
without a license. Mean while Roy Felix, better known as Roy Bennett has been
charged with the murder of Michelle Cattouse, 4 counts of attempted murder,
4cts of dangerous harm and 4cts of use of deadly means of harm.
Indira Adolphus,
"I won't sit here and say God forgive them because they don't
have any heart. From the time they just do that, gone into a crowd of people
and shoot up – they didn't care and if they don't catch all
and if their parents are there, maybe they don't know how I feel but they
will find out soon or later because what goes around comes around."
Clarine Young, Grandmother of murder victim
"The last time she came and tell me she would go to work. I asked
her if she was going back to Putt Putt and she said yes. She said it had just
opened so she was going back. She looked pretty pretty that night. She was dressed
in her white pants, and her hair was nicely fixed up. Her nose and everything
was just sharp. I told her to take care."
The shooting has also left an entire neighborhood shaken. According Dr. Atanascio
Cob who lives directly behind the Putt Putt Bar and Grill this time it was too
close to home where some of the bullets penetrated the walls of his kitchen
and living room.
Dr. Atanascio Cob, Neighbour
"The first thing that I thought was that maybe my children would get
up and come to my room so I rushed to my baby's room and he was already
awake, very frightened and I told him to please don't get up because everything
is okay. We have about three identified areas where the house was shot and two
areas where the bullets actually went through the house. I think this is the
worse that it has ever happened because there are commonly gunshots in the morning
in the neighborhood around Putt Putt but this time I think it is the worst ever
and probably the worst for Belize where so many people were hurt and so many
people were endangered."
Beverly Gallaty, Neighbour
"Actually we are used to a ritual of it because my daughter already
knows to roll and hit the ground and make it out of her bedroom, because she
is in the front bedroom, and it was just really very close. It is almost every
weekend that we live basically in fear. Actually to be quite frank, I would
like for them to close it for the safety of all the people that live here and
all of us have kids. We're basically right now prisoners in our own homes,
we're too scared to leave."
Jacqueline Godwin for 7NEWS.
And that sort of unmetered violence would continue throughout the year
with rashes of shooting, retaliatory violence and the police's long awaited
admission that yes, gang violence was behind most of it.
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