But, the cops say that they that they hope to have more success with the gang related murders and shootings, particularly those in the Port Loyola area - where 4 people were shot and one murdered in just 25 hours last week.
29 year-old Jason Sutherland was killed at his house on Central American Boulevard, which is only a few blocks away.
Though it remains unconfirmed, there is reason for police to suspect that he was killed in some sort of gang rivalry.
The Deputy Police Commissioner told us that police are trying end these conflicts. They are aware, however, that as soon as they help resolve one dispute, others sprout up to replace them very quickly. Here's how he explained the difficulties in trying to maintain a lasting peace:
Chester Williams- Deputy Compol, Commander of Operations
"You would know that over the past month there was an intense gang rivalry between the May Flower, Back a Town, PIV area. And that rivalry had led to several murders in the St. Martin's and the Back a Town area. So, we had ramped up our police operations in those areas with a view to curb the trend and I believe that we had been very successful; as you would know now that the incidents are no longer there. We had also done interventions and mediations with the different factions within the area with a view of trying to settle whatever differences they might have. But you all may understand the dynamics of Belize City, particularly over in Easter Division 1, where you end a certain rivalry and another one begins. So, like you rightfully alluded to, we have seen a spike of shooting incidents in the Port Loyola area, particularly in that area of Faber's Road between Jane Usher and we believe that spike is a result of the shooting on Thursday night at the Chinese establishment where the four individuals were shot. Subsequent to that, we had the murder of Mr. Sutherland. So, with all those incidents in that area what we have done is that we have ramped up our presence. In respect to the murder of Mr. Sutherland we are looking at a possibility of a retaliation of the Thursday night shooting. So, that one, though not confirmed yet, we believe is gang related. So, we do have a person of interest with respect to that matter and hopefully very soon we'll be able to close in on that investigation as well."
Later on in the news, we'll tell you how the Police have formed an office to make use of all of the helping hands that civil society organizations have extended to try to curb crime and violence.
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