The 10th of September holiday weekend in Belize City was a lot more peaceful than the preceding weekend, when 6 murders occurred in 30 hours. But, still, a 24 year-old man was murdered and it has the appearance of another gang-related murder.
He's Anthony McDonald, who lived on Guerrero Street in the Port Loyola area, but he was killed on Baldwin Drive, which is just off Neal Penn Road. Street sources say that he was affiliated and very friendly with members of Southside Gang, but several months ago, he moved in with his girlfriend who lives on Raccoon Street Extension. At around 8:50 p.m., on Saturday night, he was walking Baldwin Drive, and he was approaching and Neal Penn Road, a short distance from where his girlfriend lives.
As soon as he arrived at the Neal Penn Road intersection, a gunman ambushed him and shot him to the head, the left arm, and the left side of his abdomen. He died right on the street where he fell.
Today, in the police press conference, investigators shared what information they have at this time:
ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"On Saturday, just after the carnival parade, police responded at around 9 p.m., at the corner of Baldwin Drive, and Neal Penn Road, where, upon arrival, they met the lifeless body of Anthony McDonald, lying on the street-side, with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and to the shoulder. What police have learned so far was that Anthony McDonald was walking Neal Penn Road, and just about reaching the intersection with Baldwin Drive, he was approached by someone who fired several shots at his direction, causing the above-mentioned fatal injuries to him."
Reporter
"Have authorities been able to establish what the motive behind that is at this time?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"There is no motive up to now, and no persons have been detained."
Jules Vasquez
"Is there any indication if it might have been a turf issue? We know that this whole area has been quite violent."
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We know that he belongs to a certain gang in the City, and up to now, we are trying to establish the motive, why he was at that location. It is something that we do not know as yet."
Jules Vasquez
"Now, is this a subject of concern? People have an illusion, but people feel that if 2 areas of City are under a state of emergency, not that area, but areas of the City are under a state of emergency, that we shouldn't have any murders. That's an illusion. I understand that, but is it surprising for police that this kind of violence continues? We heard shots were fired again last night on Neal Penn Road Extension; no one was hit. But obviously, it is an area of - something's happening there."
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes, despite what the measures the police has taken, any other area in the City still is of concern to us because we know of the tensions between the other rivals, not only the 2 rivals that we hav presently been deal with."
We are told that his family is originally from Crooked Tree Village. We approached several members of his family, and a few of his friends for comment today, but they declined.
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