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Gunman Shot Up ComPol's Home, He Says They Messed With The Wrong Guy
posted (June 26, 2024)
Last night before 9:00 - shots were fired at the home of the Commissioner of Police in Belmopan. It's an unprecedented event - to target the country's top cop.

But, Williams wasn't at home - only his son was. He was on his way to a conference at the United Nations in New York - and he learned about the shooting while in the air. Jules Vasquez picks up the story from there in a Zoom interview with the Compol:

Commissioner Chester Williams was in mid flight to New York that he got the news that his house was being fired upon by a man on motorcycle:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Before landing in New York, I got a call from my son who was at home. So I messaged him and said to him, I am in flight, kindly text. And he text me quickly and said that, shots were being fired at the house."

His son reported hearing five of six shots. He sent that to Belmopan Police - who responded immediately.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"They examined the house and reviewed the surveillance camera system that I have at home, and they were able to obtain some very useful information from the camera system."

"And quickly, they were able to apprehend a suspect along with the firearm, which we believe to have been used in the incident."

"The motorcycle used was also recovered during operations last night."

It's a 45 cabler pistol - a prohibited firearm -prohibited because it is such a deadly weapon.

The suspect is known to police and his mother is a civilian employee:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"And, we are looking at him very closely to see who are his close associates. We have a person of interest that we're looking at likewise, who we know is a very close associate of him. And, may be the person who had motivated him to go and carry out this act."

Jules Vasquez
"Might it be some type of personal grievance?"

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"His mother happens to be a cook at a training academy. so she and I have never had any encounter personally. I don't even really know who she is. but that's as far as I know about him, I know that he has been in trouble with the law before, charged with different offenses."

And while he doesn't think it's a personal grievance, the Compol says they were sending a message:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well, I guess someone just want to send a statement if they think that I am going to be perturbed or intimidated by their action, then they have the wrong man."

"So they can come and shoot a million times. That would not distract me from doing what I need to do."

"But what I can say to them is that they will be pursued no matter where they go. They will be caught and deal with. It is something that I take very seriously, and we will act decisively in making sure that the perpetrators of this and other incidents are brought to justice."

And the commissioner says he believes the shooter is a coward:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well the person went by one motorcycle and he passed in front of the house and he stopped, a distance away. And he fired the shots from there. So again, it goes to show that he's a coward. I'm sure that whoever that this individual is, he knew that I was not at home because they might have heard on the news that I was leaving the country yesterday."

"And so they took the opportunity, believing that, knowing that I was not at home to have done this."

"Not anybody would take what happened at my house the way I'm taking it. Others would certainly take it differently. And when that do happen, it's a natural human reaction. People will tell you, you could mess with me, but noh mess with my family."

"My son was at home alone. it is tough."

Jules Vasquez
"Would you have - if you were at home - would you have come outside and lick shot after the perpetrator?"

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"If I were at home, I am sure they wouldn't have gone there. There is no doubt about that."

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