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16 Year Old Killed, Just Like His Dad & His Cousins
Thu, December 20, 2012
In our first segment we told you about the 15 year old who was killed last night, Reynaldo Garrido. The next youngest victim in last night's murder spree was 16-year-old Robert Gladden. He was the first to get killed at 6:45 pm at the north end of Partridge Street - which is a far away from his home in the Pickstock area.

Monica Bodden spoke to the ITVET student's family today:..

Monica Bodden reporting
16 year old Allan Gladden was gunned down here at the corner of Partridge and Lavender streets - just before 7 last night.

When we arrived on the scene - he had already been rushed to the KHMH - and a pool of blood was visible on street - as the residents tried to wash it away.

The young man was heading towards Lavender Street when he was approached by a man wearing dreadlocks - who fired the single shot at him - hitting him directly in the head.

The man then rode away on Patridge Street. The teenager fought for his life - but he succumbed to his injuries just an hour later.

Raphael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"At 6:49pm police visited the corner of Partridge and Lavender streets in Belize City where they saw 16 year old Robert Allan Gladden of #28 Marage Road Ladyville Belize District lying face down with apparent multiple gunshot wounds."

Allan Gladden was a student of ITVET and had recently started working.

He was to celebrate his 17th birthday on Christmas Day. Today we caught up with his Grandmother at the morgue who told us how she got the news about her grandchild who resides with her.

Myrna Smith - Grandmother of Deceased
"Last night I was at home with my common-law and my son and everybody then I got a call my daughter in law and she said that Allan got shot. I told her that I will call Keisha to find out. After that my phone rang again and my daughter said that Allan got shot. I told her that I can't go because I had left him home this morning; I press his clothes and I gave him $10. When I came home after 5 I didn't see him until last night when they call and say that he is dead."

Monica Bodden
"You know where he was going last night?"

Myrna Smith
"I never saw him last night."

Reporter
"He lived around that area?"

Myrna Smith
"No, he lived at my house."

Reporter
"He has family around that area?"

Myrna Smith
"No, he has no family in that area. I always ask him who is your friend, I told him not to bring anybody at my place because you have to know what you are doing out here and you can't keep any company - he came to live with me."

Gladden father Michael Gladden was also a victim of gun violence in 2007. He was gunned down in a broad daylight murder.

Myrna Smith
"I am not saying that he is bad or good; I don't know what he does because at the end of the day I am at work and I come home after 5. I don't know but I do not like that because they left that pain in my heart; that pain was already in my heart - it can't come out, that will just keep on. Allan would have been 17 years old on Christmas Day. I left everything in the Lord's hands and they whosoever, will answer to it."

Reporter
"Ms. Myrna I understand that Allan's father also died from gun violence?"

Myrna Smith
"Gun violence fighting; he beat the man down to the ground and after that the man came back and my son ran and they came to my work and told me that he died. I went to the scene and saw him dead and cold and they let him down there."

Monica Bodden
"Did you go on last night's scene?"

Myrna Smith
"No I didn't go because I cannot take it no more. I just started to pray."

Reporter
"How does the family moved on from here - having so many relatives' victims of gun violence?"

Myrna Smith
"Everybody feel bad right now. I don't know how we will continue like that with gun violence killing our loved one and every time it's their head; my son got shot at the side and now my grandson got shot in his ears and his head."

Monica Bodden
"Allan got shot where?"

Myrna Smith
"In his head they say - one gun shot."

As mentioned in the story, Allan Robert Gladden's family history was covered with violence. His father Michael "Papa" Gladden was murdered in 2007 on Lovely Lane.

But that is only part of the story: in 2010, his first cousin Jordick Thompson was killed on Church Street; and in 2008 Jordick's brother Darrell was also killed. That means Myrna Smith, the matriarch of the family has lost one son and three grandsons to gun violence.

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