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Home Invasion Murder in Apartment #2
posted (December 30, 2009)

And while that mother was on the news last night, another murder was happening. But last night’s murder wasn’t in the street. 30 year old Randolph Hinks – known to friends as “Panther” was shot and killed inside his home at the government barracks on Ebony Street. That is where a lone gunman opened fire indiscriminately on the residents as they were watching the evening news. He fatally shot Randolph Hinks, and injured his 63 year old mother Rose Williams, and her 50 year old common-law husband Errol Robateau. Keith Swift has the story.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Last night police cordoned of the entire corner of Ebony and Sarstun Streets as a crime scene. Nervous and visibly frightened neighbours watched from their yards while the grief stricken daughter of the shooting victims was led away from the crime scene. The murder occurred inside apartment number 2 at the long barracks on Ebony Street. 30 year old Randolph Hinks was sitting in this very chair, watching the 6:30 news with his mother and stepfather when…

Herman Lambey, Uncle of Murder Victim
“She saw a shadow passed by. Didn’t take it any thing because it is the barracks and a little while after, gunshots just came through the window.”

Area Resident,
“I heard a couple shots and I said you know what, somebody got shot. That sounds like that got empty.”

Herman Lambey,
“Her son was killed, she was injured in her foot and her common law husband was injured somewhere in the shoulder.”

The gunman opened fire through these wooden louvers without even opening them. Incredibly, these holes on the louvers and the window frame are from 9 milimeter bullets. Inside the home, these holes are from the bullet which penetrated the walls and louvres which found their way into the house, into cupboards, and ultimately on Randolph Hinks.

Keith Swift,
“Does the family believe that Randolph and his mom and stepmother were the targets?”

Herman Lambey,
“Not from what I heard, no.”

Last night’s murder was four days after the shooting of Denvoy Bevans on the barracks basketball court on Boxing Day. And perhaps the irony of his death is that the stellar athlete who returned from the US two weeks ago, fell victim to the very violence he was trying to end.

Herman Lambey,
“He is high spirited, jovial, fun. Actually just yesterday he went and he talked to the guys and asked them to let’s have peace. So it was shocking that just after he did that, this is what happened. He was the one who talked to them and said let’s stop this, let’s have peace and the night he is dead. The background is his nephew had some altercation in the past with these guys and so he was just trying to make peace with them.”

Keith Swift,
“His nephew was in the house?”

Herman Lambey,
“Yes.”

Keith Swift,
“Do you believe the nephew was the target?”

Herman Lambey,
“To some extent maybe. It was surely not Randolph and not his mother so I’d like to believe that is the alternative.”

While it is unclear if last night’s murder was related to the Boxing Day shooting of Denford Bevans, these residents on Ebony Street know one thing: another one of their sons, their neighbour has fell victim to gun violence and they just want it to stop.”

Lydia Jones, Area Resident
“I feel like somebody just ripped something out of me because of my cousin. I feel like somebody just ripped something out of me. I almost passed. It is so sad.”

Area Resident,
“This bwoy is just our neighbour. This bwoy just came back from States. This bwoy is his mom’s right hand. People need to stop. What are they waiting to happen? They don’t know about God? You want to tell me their mom don’t teach them about God?”

Herman Lambey,
“Have a heart mein. Killing people, that’s not our purpose on earth. Our purpose is to have peace, love. So let’s try forgiveness with one another and make Belize a better place.”

Lydia Jones,
“All I want to do is talk to the youths: stop the violence. What could we do to one another, brother and sister killing one another, black men shooting down black men. What could have gone so wrong for them to be killing one another. Everybody raise together in this hood, they watched one another grow up, they play football on this field together. But we as a community have to come together and find a way how we could fight this crime because if we don’t do it, people will be ignorant and say we will retaliate but retaliating won’t make it better. Retaliating won’t make it better, it will just make the situation worse. I want my people that live in this neighbourhood for us to try and see what we can do to stop those killings.

Come on my people, we could do better than this. Belize used to be sweet, we can get it back. We don’t need these type of violence. An innocent man get killed, shoot down in his house who doesn’t even live in that world. Pantha doesn’t live in that world. Come on my people, come on.”

A bullet hit Rose Williams on her left foot. She was treated and released. Errol Robateau was hit in his left upper back, left shoulder, and right hand. He discharged himself from the KHMH this afternoon and we are told he is at home recovering. Randolph Hinks as we noted in the story was an outstanding athlete, well known for his participation in football. He was a clerk at the City Council prior to leaving to the states in August. It was the year’s 94th murder – the third in just the past week.

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