At the top of the news, we told you about this morning's murder in Dangriga. Well, also this morning, a 16 year-old was jumped by a group of young men few miles away, in Hope Creek Village. He's Jose Salinas, and he is currently recovering at the Southern Regional Hospital.
Salinas had only just gotten off a James bus, to pick up some clothes from his family home in Hope Creek. He recently graduated from the National 4-H Youth Development Center, and he works in the Cayo District. According to his family members, he has had long-standing quarrels with other young men in the village, and so, he stayed away, trying avoiding trouble
But, as soon as these enemies of his spotted him getting out of the bus today, they reportedly ganged up on him, while one of the minors stabbed him in the back and abdomen.
Fortunately, he survived, and his family rushed him to the Southern Regional Hospital, where the doctors managed to stabilize him.
This afternoon, we spoke off-camera with his grandmother who was the first to notice him coming down the street injured. Here's what she told us:
Voice of: Grandmother
"He came in. I know he wasn't here. He was camping somewhere in Belmopan. He is working there. I was surprised to see him. I saw him come in, but he had his shirt wrap around him and then all around him was red as though he had a struggle. So I ask him what was wrong with him and he says that 4 boys was out at the road by the bump. I came off the bus and they attacked me. He says the mother was there and she did not say anything to them. They stabbed me. He said the driver had to come out and parted them."
"When I look at his back, he has a big stab wound in his back and he was bleeding a lot. So I told him don't throw away your shirt. And then lower down by his ribs, he had another stab and like a slash."
Reporter
"Does you grandson have any kind of enemies in the village or young men he doesn't get along with - things like that?"
Voice of: Grandmother
"Oh yes. I can say that in this village there are groups that attacked each other and this is a long time story running on and on and this was the time that they could have got him. They had many attacks before, but not as serious as this one. So from way back they were threatening each other. These youths are getting so aggressive, so as if though they want to kill someone. So it's a serious matter that needs attention in this village."
We also spoke with his mother who said that the doctor treating him believes that he will be able to recover, provided that there are no medical complications.
Police sources tell us that a 15 year-old is detained, and a knife, believe to have been the weapon used, has been recovered.
His family believes that police department needs to place a police station in Hope Creek, which according to them, has gotten unruly with the number of young men growing up there. We have recently received reports of active gangs in these small southern villages including Bella Vista.
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