8 year old Eyannie Nunez was killed while she slept at 5:00 on Sunday morning in a early morning shooting on Zericote street.
Since then, this particularly merciless murder has become symbolic of the messed up times we're living in. And the loss of this small child has also become a rallying point for community activists to take a stand against crime.
And while that happens in the public arena, in private, for this family there is just pure un-remitting grief, a black hole where there was once a vibrant little girl.
Indeed, the loss is incalculable - and today the community came out and also shut down to show that we all share in the loss.
Andrea Polanco followed the trail of tears that led to this child's funeral at All Saint's church at 2:00 pm:…
Canon Leroy Flowers
"Take time to say I love you. Don't be afraid to cry. Don't be afraid to ask God why."
Soothing words for those still searching for answers. You didn't have to know 8 year old Eyannie Nunez to share in the grief and for so many like Francine Murillo ……it hit close to home today:
Francine Murillo
"One month ago my nephew had got about 5 shots, he is recovering at this moment with a broken leg and I don't know what I am going to do if it actually hit my direct home. Nowhere is safe, you keep your children in your house and they still die from this violence. So I am here in solidarity making a statement to the Minister of Police that we need to start to pay the policemen more so that they don't take bribes. We need to get convictions on all these criminal activities so that we could stop this violence."
A violence that this montage represents for this group of both young and old as they reflected on what the possibilities might have been for those who met the same fate as Eyannie.
Devon Jones
"For me I ask every young people to free themselves, go more hard in education and for the politicians to just wait until the problem come know on their door."
Andrea Polanco
"You have any final message that you want to send to your fellow Belizean?"
Devon Jones
"Put down the gun."
A time for healing, as the community came out and also shut down to pay their respects and collectively grieve but also to take a collective stand against violence.
As the body was carted out - this child's death had taken on its own narrative - she has become a symbol for violent times and opportunity for a community outpouring
And all along the route, students form schools came out with posters speaking against violence, remembering this standard one student.
Politicians and community leaders as well came out for this child who was anonymous a week ago - and has now become a galvanizing national figure.
Literally hundreds came out to witness the procession - which included - as we noted - many community and political leaders, up to the Leader Of The Opposition And The Minister Of Education.
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