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Belize City Police have arrested and charged 6 men for two recent murders.

The first incident that they have made an arrest for is the killing of 46-year-old Keith Courtenay. You’ll remember that the shooting which happened 2 weeks ago on Sarstoon Street in the Long Barracks area. Courtenay was attempting to shield his 6-year-old grandson from the sudden spray of gunfire, and he was fatally injured.

Investigators have also arrested 4 men for the brazen broad daylight shooting 3 days at the corner of Orange and West Streets. You’ll remember that 21-year-old Derrick King and another Bowen and Bowen delivery man were conducting their company’s business when they came under attack. 2 other innocent bystanders were caught in the crossfire when gunmen opened fire on King and his co-worker. Police now say that their investigation is indicating that he was the intended target.

In a short briefing this evening, Police shared details about the arrests:

Supt. Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"Due to several leads to the incidents that happen during the week, investigators have been busy working out, trying to gather evidence as much as possible so that we can find those person who have been involved in these shootings and as a result of that, reference to the shooting of Mr. Keith Courtenay, police arrested 2 minors and they were taken to magistrate's court a while ago. Also, for the fatal shooting of Derrick King, which occurred on Tuesday, police arrested and charged 4 persons for murder and 3 of them for conspiracy to committee murder. They are Randy Green, Paul Smith, Charles Middleton and Luciano Novelo, all of a Taylor's alley address."

Reporter
"Can you confirm that Mr. King was in fact the target of that shooting then? Or was he caught in the cross fire as was previously reported?"

Supt. Alejandro Cowo
"We suspect now that we have gathered evidence that he was the intended target."

Daniel Ortiz
"Are you able to say what caused him to be targeted sir or is that too much as this time?"

Supt. Alejandro Cowo
"We're still dealing with the investigation. We have a possible motive but it's something that we still need to confirm, hence the reason we will just leave it as that at this moment. Also, police arrested and charged Yulen Allen for the shooting of Michael Pook which happened about a month ago. He was arrested and charged for the crime of attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm. He was escorted to court and he was taken to prison yesterday. Well he has had been absconded from police for a good while. He handed over himself to the police, which resulted in his arrest."

The 2 minors have since been arraigned for the murder of Keith Courtenay, and they have been remanded to prison.

For the mass shooting which led to the murder of Derrick King, police escorted 25-year-old Paul Smith, 19-year-old Luciano Novelo, 27-year-old Randy Green, and 23-year-old Charles Middleton to the Magistrate’s Court this evening. 

All 4 Belize City residents were arraigned this evening before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. Smith was read the charge of murder, while the other 3 were read the charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Due to the nature of the offenses, they were all remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May 18th.

Police also believe that they are close to making an arrest in the murders of the two five year old’s: Kia Herbert, and Dominique Rhamdas.