Email

Print

7News was the first on scene after the police locked the area down. Daniel Ortiz has that story on what appears to be a frightening escalation of gang violence which came to the doorsteps of the police department:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Police Corporal Alrick Arnold was one of 3 persons shot this morning in front of Queen Street Police Station, the Headquarters of Eastern Division North.

Bullet holes and broken windshield glass on these 3 vehicles, all told the story of the wild spray of bullets which landed right on the doorstep of the country's most iconic Police Station.

The crime scene technicians processed the area for 3 hours, putting down 32 evidence markers, blocking Queen Street up until just before midday.

Sup. Hilberto Romero - O C, CIB, Eastern Division
"Upon reports received of a shooting near the gate at the Queen Street Police Station. CIB personnel visited the area where information gathered that there was an exchange of gunfire between a police officer and a person who apparently shot at a person who was exiting the compound."

Eyewitnesses told 7News that the gunman, who is a minor, arrived on this bike a little after 8 o'clock this, and he waited patiently for his target.

We understand that the man he came to execute was Brandon "BT" Tillett, reputed member of George Street. BT, we're told, is out on bail, and is required to sign in every Friday at the Queen Street Police Station. Street figures don't regularly leave their home turf, and are only forced to do so to attend court and to sign in with the police, and so that's what brought BT to this police station today.

Corporal Arnold, we are told, was walking to the office as he normally does to pick up court books, and prisoners to take to the Belize City Magistrate's Court. He's in charge of the holding cell where all accused persons must wait before being arraigned, taken for their court adjournment.

He and 3 civilians were walking by at the very same time when the gunman, said to be a male minor, made his move on BT.

He opened fire with this glock 9mm pistol spraying the area, and injuring the officer and 3 other civilians. We're told that the gunman, who missed the target, tried to flee but police swarmed the area and immediately detained him.

Sup. Hilberto Romero - O C, CIB, Eastern Division
"Investigation reveal that the person exiting the compound at the time was Brandon Tillet, he was along with Elroy Saldano. They were approached by a male person who fired shots at them. The Corporal who is Alrick Arnold, was going towards the Queen Street Police Station, had encountered the shooting. He drew his service weapon and there was an exchange of gunfire between himself and the gunman. As a result of the exchange of gunfire, 4 persons received varied degrees of injuries. Corporal Alrick Arnold was shot to the chest and abdomen, Elroy Saldano was shot to the chest, Kian Smith was shot to the elbow and Graciela Castillo was shot to the calf. Police who were in the compound at the time immediately pursued the suspect. He was apprehended going towards the swing bridge near the pharmacy. He was detained and a search was conducted on him police found a 9mm pistol with 8 live rounds and he was taken into custody. He's a 15 year old minor."

The officer and the 3 civilians were rushed to the KHMH, and we're told that Corporal Arnold is in a critical condition, after being injured in the chest and abdomen. Police tell us that his cell phone in his breast pocket may have saved him from a fatal wound.

ASP Desiree Phillips - OC, Eastern North Division
"Corporal Arnold received a gunshot wound to the upper chest. He has just completed a successful surgery and we are thankful that he's in a critical condition, but we are hopeful that he pulls through. Having spoken to one of the 2 officers who were in pursuit of the suspect, what he said to me was really touching because he said what inspired him to get the suspect is that he saw his fellow officer down and that caused him to just react and didn't hesitate at all. Saying that, I have to say good job and well done to the police officers who were brave, courageous because no one even stop to check if they were armed or not. Seeing someone fleeing and having committed such a brazen, senseless act like this, the officers responded and thankful that they were able just within seconds of his moving away from the scene, were able to apprehend him. I just want to say thanks to the police officers. I think it's very good work."

The brazenness of the attack, staged right outside the front door of the Police Station is not lost on the Eastern Division North High Command:

ASP Desiree Phillips - OC, Eastern North Division
"Definitely it concerns us that we have persons out there who feel brave enough to come out in broad daylight, not disguised or anything and would fire out on person's right within the confines of where a police station is. That simply shows that there is a loss of respect for authority for law and order. We want to assure the Belizean public that the police will do anything and everything in our power to ensure that persons who perpetrate the law is brought to justice and swiftly as in the case this morning. It is no secret that Brandon Tillet is a known gang figure from the George Street Gang, and as far as I am concerned it really doesn't matter where the incident occur because criminal minded persons out there have their intention, motive, targets and they will find their targets wherever it goes. It just happens that the target they were looking for strategically was coming out the police station at the very same time."

Supt. Mark Flowers, Commander, GSU
"The incident as you rightly mentioned would seem to be a direct challenge on the state, in that it has come practically inside the police station. The incident, of course, that we want to give all the weight that it deserves. We're not taking this lightly at all, the state will not abdicate its responsibility and functions. As a representative of state, we want to say to all commanders and all command in section that we will be at their disposal, we are here to offer assistance and support which commanders request that we are be able to provide."

ASP Desiree Phillips - OC, Eastern North Division
"People who think they would want to come right in front of the police station and commit senseless acts like these, the message is that you will not go without the police catching up with you, because you have to think twice to come right in front of a police station where there is so many police officers and then come and shoot somebody then just disappear, it doesn't work like that."

We approached Brandon "BT" Tillett, the intended target of the brazen attack, but he was unwilling to grant us any comments.

That 15 year-old remains in police custody and investigators are moving swiftly to prosecute him for the attempted murder of the cop, the attempted murder on Tillett, other charges which may come as a result of the minor injuries to the other shooting victims.

We note that this gunman was able to wait in front of the police station without raising any alarms, or drawing any attention by disguising himself a well-dressed, law-abiding civilian - one who we understand even ate a few streetside tacos while waiting. It was not until he drew his weapon and started firing at "BT" that police realized what was happening and reacted.