7 News Belize

SHOOTING IN BELIZE CITY LEAVES STREET FIGURE CRITICAL
posted (July 29, 2011)
The relative period of calm in gun violence on the streets of Belize City ended with a bang today when a well known street figure was shot multiple times by a lone gunman. Around one this afternoon twenty nine year old Jeffery Flowers was walking near Minister of Housing Michael Finnegan's Amara Street office was a man riding a bicycle took out a handgun and started pulling the trigger. According to police press officer Fitzroy Yearwood, investigators have recovered nine expended shells from the scene.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Presently we have detectives canvassing that area trying to see what we can gather. We are trying to put together evidence from the scene. The victim has been identified as Jeffrey Flowers Aka "Redning". He was standing somewhere between Dean and King Streets and Amara Avenue when a barrage of bullets were hailed at him injuring him. He was transported to the KHMH where is he listed in a serious but stable condition."

Monica Bodden
"At this time you know what part of his body he receive gunshot injuries?"

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"All over the body especially in the back area."

Monica Bodden
"You know how many times he was shot?"

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Not sure but from the scene we recovered 9 expended shells. We are working on several motives. We know that he is a member of one of the Southside rivalry gangs, so we are looking at that angle and all other aspects that could have led to this incident. We are asking for the assistance of the public to come forward. This is 1 o' clock in the afternoon in a busy area. We are hoping that we have witnesses who are willing to help us. If you don't want to come forward we ask them to used our hotline 0-800-922-tips where your identity would be kept confidential."

Monica Bodden
"Any suspect at this time?"

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"We are not certain as yet but we are working on several leads in this case." We've chronicled Jeffrey Flowers' criminal history several times in this newscast. He went to jail for ten years when he was just seventeen. After he got out, the twenty-seven year had been accused of shooting at police; going equipped for a home invasion and had even been detained as a murder suspect. Given Flower's background police say they are looking at a number of motives for this afternoon's shooting. Just three months ago, Jeffrey Flowers had visited our studios to appeal to the police to take him off what he called the department's "blacklist", maintaining to us that he was turning over a new leaf. Here's that interview he gave to News Director Jules Vasquez.

Jeffrey Flowers
"I positive sure that I did wrong in my past, but today I can positively say that I am walking upright, so that is what makes me invisible so they can't see me. They don't know me. I am lost amongst them because they are dwelling on my past. I just the people in the society know that I am really am tired of this. I cry about this. I am a suicidal person, I am a person that when I get enough about something, I can react, you can expect anything from me that is why they treat me like a dog in the system because they know that but I am not out here robbing and jacking anybody in any kind of way. I am out here to make peace and I get along with anybody but just that at the end of the day they pick up me for all kind of craziness, they are making people have a bad impression about me. These police are just taking me likely, they don't know who I am, I am a person that cannot take people harassing me. They are provoking me to anger, that is what i am saying. It's not that I fear that they might do me anything; I don't even care if they do me anything. I suffer so long in my life, I didn't even enjoy my life, I was institutionalized for years. Only my woman is keeping me strong. I am working hard for my money out here and they are just on to me and that is why I Just want the world to know what is happening because I believe that it will reach to a point that I will can't take it no more and I will react. I get push to that point but because I find the almighty I overcome those temptations they are bringing my way."

Jules Vasquez
"Now you have a lot of people out there particularly law enforcement personnel who will say 'Jeffrey Flowers turn to God? Why don't you stop it' you know what I am saying."

Jeffrey Flowers
"Well I can always say that people will always look at my defects and look on my past but I am positive sure that I am a servant of the higher man."

Jules Vasquez
"You admit though that in the past you have been a very dangerous man, you earn your reputation in the past."

Jeffrey Flowers
"Well it's like I am not saying no to the past but the past is the past. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow might never be mine, so I just have to give the higher power the glory to deliver me from them, because I don't know what is their evil plan and wicked intention, to know that they are create people to get an impression about me like I am just around in this gang homicide thing - running around shooting man and deal with lot of craziness. I am not into those things, I am with family life."

Tonight Flowers remains in a critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

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