Email

Print

This caused widespread panic in the club and in the park, as everyone fled the area looking for cover. Police rushed Saunders to the KHMH where he died about 15 minutes later. The head of CIB told us more today:

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"Precinct 3 responded to a shooting incident at Pier 1, and as a result, upon arrival, they were informed that the victim, who was identified as Asher Saunders of a Bagdad Street address, was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the back of his head. Upon police's arrival at the hospital, Mr. Saunders had passed away. What police gathered so far is that Mr. Saunders and others were at Pier 1 socializing when a dispute happened amongst a group of male persons. Police intervened to stop the fight. And whilst police were intervening in the fight, someone fired a shot hitting Mr. Saunders to the back of his head."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Was he the intended target?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, investigations is pointing out that yes, he was the intended target."

Jules Vasquez
"Reports suggest that this is a retaliation for the murder of Arthur Flowers."

Reporter
"Taz."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, we do not have that information that it might be because of that shooting incident."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, is Asher Saunders an associate of Kentroy McKoy, who was charged for the Arthur Flowers murder?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, I cannot say if he is an associate, but I know that they are friends."

Jules Vasquez
"And they are both linked with the same group?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes."

Jules Vasquez
"So, in that way, might it be interpreted as some retaliatory act?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We don't believe that, no."

The murder happened right next to the cops trying to break up the fight, and the night club had surveillance cameras in the area. But, because the cops were distracted, and the surveillance video doesn't show who actually fired the weapon, police haven't been able to charge anyone.

Right now, the management of Pier 1 is taking a lot of heat on Facebook, with many in the public calling for its closure, or for the revocation of their liquor license. At today's press conference, the media challenged police on the safety of the public at this night club:

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, Belize City
"I know that police do not control the issuing of liquor licenses. They recommend to the liquor licensing board on any event or whatsoever happened in these establishments, and police recommends if it is to be closed or opened."

"Yes, there we recommend that officers work because of the different types of people that frequents these businesses, and because of what had happened previously. So, there are always police officers working at these establishments."

Jules Vasquez
"So, how did a gun enter the establishment."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, I know that it is the duty of the police to search anybody who they believe or suspect might have a weapon. But, it is them who are performing the duties out there."

Jules Vasquez
"Is it that females are not searched? We know that some times, females are used to introduce."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes, it is not only male police officers that work in these establishments. It's both males and females, the same reason why, because they need to search these females that do frequent these establishments, likewise."

Reporter
"BTL Park is considered a family safe space."

"At what point do you decide enough is enough? What other safe space is there in Belize City for city residents other than BTL Park?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"You know that police is - especially the weekend, police have a great number officers patrolling that area because that is where most of the City go and party during the weekend. Hence, it is the reason that all these establishments that are opened there, they have police officers working there. So, the amount of police officers are many that are working there."

Reporter
"Do you still recommend that that place be opened for the public safety?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"That is something that whenever the liquor licensing board meets, especially when it comes to the renewal of licenses for every year, that is some of the recommendations that police make to them. The safety of certain persons, or such a building, or place for people to frequent, but its just a recommendation that the police gives."

Reporter
"What is your recommendation for that establishment today, if you were going to the liquor board? What is it?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, that is a decision for the persons who are involved with the liquor board have to deal with, not me."

The last time Pier 1 made the news was in September of this year, when a bar brawl broke out, and 3 persons ended up getting stabbed.

We've spoken to persons close to the club's management, and we're told that they took all the precautions they could have. They had police security, and installed surveillance cameras to capture such incidents. We're told the cops managed to break up a first fight, but it was during a subsequent confrontation that Saunders was fatally shot. There is suspicion that a female companion of the shooter may have managed to sneak the weapon in. Sources tell us that not all the female patrons of the bar were searched that night, and that's how the weapon made it pass the security search.

In April of this year, Saunders was charged with for a big money armed robbery at the UNO Gas Station in San Ignacio Town.