Today, residents of Belize City empathize with Marcia Argalles, 43, as she mourns the death of her 9-year-old son, Joshua Abraham, who became a victim of a senseless murder after two gunmen sprayed an area of Victoria Street, yesterday, September 21, 2011.
Abraham was loved by all who knew him. The residents of Victoria Street told Amandala that the gunmen ruined what should have been a peaceful Independence Day for them by the “cowardly attack”.
Argalles told the media that her son was part of a group of people who was watching the annual uniform parade which passed by the intersection of North Front Street and Victoria Street, yesterday.
Just before midday, about thirty minutes after the parade had passed the area, Joshua and a group of other children and adults were still on the street.
Argalles said that Joshua went to the store on the street to buy water. While he was returning, two men rode up from the direction of the intersection of New Road and Victoria Street on separate bicycles. They then hid behind some vehicles near that intersection.
Joshua was about 50 yards away, and still on the street; he was walking toward a neighbor’s home on Victoria Street.
The gunmen fired a barrage of bullets in the area, which was still crowded. Joshua, who heard the gunshots, tried to run away from the gunfire, but he was hit in the left rib.
Argalles, who lives in the near vicinity of where her son was shot, said that she heard Joshua scream out in pain and fear. He ran into the yard where he was going, and collapsed.
The gunmen then escaped in the direction that they had come.
Joshua was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, but he died very soon after he had arrived.
Argalles is devastated by the loss of her son, and the way the gunmen fired randomly and hit him. She is calling for the authorities to help deliver justice for the death of her innocent son.
By all accounts, Joshua was a very loving and helpful young man. His friends and acquaintances spoke fondly of the fact that he was very energetic and easy-going. They are sad and angry at his loss.
No official motive has been reported by police, but residents of the city believe that the actual target(s) of the gunmen were on the street at the time.
We also understand that there are known drug dealers and gang affiliates living on the street, and Joshua took a bullet meant for one of them. Residents of Victoria Street told us that the gunmen were “cowards” to shoot from so far away, instead of coming and attacking their rivals from nearby.
It is also notable that Joshua is the son of Carlos “Zimbab” Abraham, one of the residents of George Street who spoke out against the brutality of the GSU on August 29, 2011, and who was charged with the offense of using insulting words for that same incident.
Police say that they have five men detained, but none of them have been charged with any offenses relating to the shooting.
On Monday, four men who were thought to be personalities of the PIV (Peace in the Valley) gang, were shot while participating in the Community Work Project (see story in this issue). This project was agreed upon at the gang truce meeting with the Government of Belize and the rival gangs of the city, 19 days ago.
Residents of the city told us that they believe that the spate of gang-related violence, which has been relatively lessened since the gang truce, will once again spike as a result of the shooting of these four men, and the murder of Joshua Abraham. They believe that these incidents are indicating that the truce is not holding.