There was also a broad daylight shooting that has left a 21 year old fighting for his life. He is Marcos Zelaya. On Saturday morning around 10:00, he was walking on Complex Avenue in the Martins Area when a gunman drove up near him and shot him several times. Zelaya is at the hospital in a critical condition tonight. We met his dad Jose Zelaya Sr. who is a well-known street figure in the area. He spoke candidly about his son's shooting and the connection to the ongoing gang rivalry in the area. Here is that interview.
Jose Antonio Zelaya Sr., Father
"Me, my two nephew and my niece left from my mother's house, heading towards my home, my son stop at the corner of Mahogany and Complex and buy tacos and that is where they followed him from. My son stop and talk to me for a brief moment. I see the vehicle but the amount of people who are out on Saturday morning, I didn't expect it, as soon as my son rode away, the vehicle swerve from me, cut off my son and that is where it happened."
"When I turn around the first thing I see was a man came out from the drivers seat and gave my son one shot in the back of the head that is the first shot my son received in the back of the head and he fell on his face. The vehicle come to a complete stop and the gunman pushed out half of his body and shot my son three more times. At that moment, I reacted and I run behind the vehicle. The vehicle take off."
"My son's shooting was a planned hit by the BLC, Back-a-Lands Crips, that was a planned hit and I am saying it because I know it and they know it."
"I personally no have no retaliation to do against them, none."
"8 months ago I lose my son and this incident doesn't have anything to do with my son murder 8 months ago so that is the first thing I want to clear up."
"I have underworld connections but my underworld connection doesn't have anything to do with my son shooting. Whatever connection my son have to the underworld, I can't stop nothing from that because that is not in my hands nor is it in my power."
As you heard, Zelaya's other son, 20 year old Jose Jr. was murdered in Corozal in May 2018. Now as it relates to his older brother, Marcos Zelaya, today at the police press briefing, police confirmed that his shooting was a gang related hit and that it may be connected to the murder of Joseph Babb who was a major player in a gang that is based in the Gungulung area. Here is more from police.
Reporter
"Is there anything suggesting that his shooting is connected to the murder of Joseph Babb?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo - Head, CIB
"We suspect that it is of the different rivalries and different shootings that have been happening in that area and there is a possibility yes that that is one of the motives."
Reporter
"Mr. Zeyala has a connection to one of the gangs?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo - Head, CIB
"He is connected to one of the gangs there."
Reporter
"Is there any fear about police from retaliation in that particular neighbourhood and if so what will the department be doing to mitigate against?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo - Head, CIB
"There is a high tension of probably retaliation, hence the reason police are vigilant in that area. Police are patrolling in that area, the Jones Avenue, Lawrence Avenue and other avenue where it is traverse by these criminals."
Joseph Babb - who was considered the boss of the "BacKalands Crips" - was killed on January second of this year.
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