And while police say they are remaining vigilant - tonight, three city families are grieving.
The first Belize City resident who became a casualty of this latest flare-up was 25 year-old Clifford Flores who was gunned down on Sylvia Arthurs street, right in front of his house.
Flores was shot at around 7:20 p.m., in the middle of the newscast. Our cameraman arrived on the scene shortly after, and today, we went to speak with Flores' family members, who were in the midst of their grief. Daniel Ortiz has that story:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
Tragedy revisited the home of the Flores family last night at around 7:20 in the first City shooting on Caesar Ridge Road area. 25 year-old Clifford Simeon Flores and his 2 friends were sitting on a vehicle here in front of their house when an SUV drove past. A gunman opened fire from that vehicle in the direction of the group. Flores was injured 3 times, once to the abdomen, and twice to the lower back.
His family was watching the news when his was ambushed and gunned down.
Voice of: Family Member
"What we know about the shooting incident is that like I said sometime around 7pm yesterday we were watching the media. We watch the media because as diligent Belizeans you have to be well informed whether its propaganda or not, you need to hear what is happening out there, so watch the media ll the time as a family because we are closely knitted - we are a family. We stand strong together and we understand a vehicle resembling that of a red Kia just came down the lane because this street is actual Sylvia Arthurs Street, it just have the sign up and they came down quickly - the element of surprise and they just came firing."
He was rushed to the KHMH, where doctors worked on him for 2 hours, but in the end, the injuries were too severe.
At this time, it is believed that Flores was the first casualty of a gang related flare up. The characteristics of his street slaying may also look like gang violence. The family says however, that observers need to look past all that because Clifford Flores was no gang affiliate.
Voice of: Family Member
"You all must have pass by this residence and you all must be saying that this is a typical gang warfare. I want to state to the nation of Belize that what occurred last night in the day of our Lord September 17th, 2014 at about sometime after 7pm that assault was an unnecessary assault on the wrong people. We are all grassroots Belizeans. That assault was launched against primarily public servants - this is a family of public servants - police officers, soldiers, coast guard, teachers - we are prominent grassroots Belizeans from this Port Loyola area. We are not affiliated with any gang, but we remain focus, we remain unmoved and this is not nitty gritty like what happens every day. Yes we cry and we are in pain, we don't know how long these things lost and I just want that the general community know out there that Clifford Simeon Flores, my nephew, who is also like unto a son to me - because I am privilege to be around my nephew all the days of his life. I help to raise him, nurse him and look out for his well-being. Apart from that last night I took my nephew to the hospital after he was injured which ended up fatally by that unnecessary assault because my nephew grew up in a prominent grassroots like how I tell you. We grew up poor, but we educate ourselves without political assistance. As a family we sent one another to school, we feed each other, we don't go and beg for hands out, we are not that type of people."
His family is in mourning, cold, but contained fury at his Clifford's murder. He's but the second son, Clifton Flores Sr. has lost. 2 years ago, Clifford Jr. was slain in a similar manner Wagners Lane - also known as Jump Street.
Voice of: Family Member
"We've been offended and assaulted innocently twice. You all know that my nephew Clifton Flores Jr. he died two years ago on Jump Street and I could tell you this for a matter of fact that people know about crime in Belize. Belize is small."
And with Clifford's death, all old wounds and indeed new ones, are re-opened.
Voice of: Family Member
"He was like my everything. When I heard about it last night I was coming from school. When I reach, they had already took him to the hospital. He was a cool person, he didn't like problems. He was love. He always look out for his families. He give people their respect. It's really hard because he and I are in since 2008 until 2014. They took him away."
As noted in our story, Clifford Flores' older brother, Clifton Jr., was killed in April of 2012. Both Flores men only lived to the age of 25 years.
|