And while there are connections between that gang and local drug dealers, thankfully, the gang situation in Belize, right now, is nowhere near that Chicago situation.
In fact, according to law enforcement officials there has not been one gang related murder since a truce was hammered out in early September.
And today there was another positive sign coming from the gangs: in a low-key event one gang handed over a firearm with two rounds for destruction.
It's a working handgun - and Pastor Paul Cassanova who's been facilitating the gang truce says that the gesture is being made to encourage other gangs to follow suit:..
Pastor Paul Cassanova
"What we witness here today is destruction of a gun, one that was voluntarily surrendered to the CYDP by one of the groups' participation in the truce."
Jules Vasquez
"Now explain to me what is symbolism of the gesture? It's only one gun, we know there are many more out there in the streets."
Pastor Paul Cassanova
"For me Jules it's a serious step forward, being that no money was offered, this was not anything that we ever discus with any of them, and they volunteered so I think, even if one gun comes forward I am hopeful and hoping that it would trigger off a domino effect and we will have other groups volunteering to bring weapons forward."
Jules Vasquez
"Now, it can be interpreted two ways; ether one, it's a set up to soften up the authorities into thinking that well there is a de-escalation, while there may not be and things might start jump off again. Or it may indeed be a genuine step forward. What's your interpretation?"
Pastor Paul Cassanova
"I take it as a genuine step forward Jules, simply for the fact that it came from them as a voluntary issue and secondly I believe that for maybe for the last six week, close the two months that they have been holding it down, so I want to just say that I believe that it's genuine their stepping forward. It's one gun yes but it's one gun less on the streets and I am hoping again like I said that it would cause some kind of domino effect and maybe we have more guns being volunteered off the streets."
The gun handover was facilitated by Restore Belize, CYDP and Pastor Cassanova - with minimal police presence.
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