Photo: Nicholi Rhys, deceased
by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. July 20, 2023
A brazen and fatal attack on Neal Pen Road shocked the residents of Belize City today as 33-year-old Nicholi Rhys, a well-known street figure, was shot dead in broad daylight. The deadly incident also left 27-year-old Jervis Samuels injured and hospitalized.
The tragic shooting occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, while Rhys was at Samuels’ residence on Neal Pen Road, getting his vehicle repaired. The two men were standing outside when a lone gunman, riding a bicycle, approached them and opened fire.
Faced with a hail of bullets, both men attempted to flee, but the assailant relentlessly pursued Rhys. Despite his falling to the ground, Rhys was shot multiple times in the head, resulting in his immediate death.
Rhys, known to law enforcement for his extensive criminal history, had faced charges related to murder, robbery, and possession of unlicensed firearms. The son of Martha Rhys, the Officer in Charge of Belmopan, he had managed to avoid convictions on several serious charges in the past.
Hilberto Romero, Assistant Commissioner of Police, provided preliminary information about the shooting. He stated, “Upon arrival, we learned that two male persons were shot. They were immediately taken to the KHMH where one of them succumbed to his injuries at the KHMH. He has been identified as Nicholi Rhys, and the other victim was shot to the foot and he was identified as Jervis Samuels.”
Romero emphasized that the motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, and it remains uncertain whether the victims were the intended targets or if they were innocently caught in the crossfire. The police are exploring all leads to determine the circumstances that led to this violent attack.
Shaheed Musa, a resident of the neighborhood, expressed his dismay and frustration over the senseless violence. Musa, who runs the “Drums not Guns” movement in the area, lamented the lack of response from the police when he attempted to alert them about the shooting. He witnessed the aftermath of the incident and described the scene as “foolishness” and a failure of the system.
“Foolishness! Outright foolishness! Broad daylight foolishness, disrespect to the Drums not Guns movement. I just came back from teaching the kids, because I teach my movement, and right now we are doing a summer program, and we have probably 10 youths from right up the street that are in this program. I feel like the system isn’t hearing my cry, and it’s right here in front of my home, on my block,” Musa said.
Musa’s movement aims to steer young people away from violence and towards more positive activities, but the recent shooting reveals the challenges they face in effecting change. He emphasized the need for community members to speak up and actively work towards creating a safer neighborhood.
“I have a vision of the block. Sooner or later the neighborhood will change. We can start a neighborhood watch. A lot of respectable people live in this neighborhood. I’ve talked to some of them before about it. We can change things, we just have to speak up and do more,” he stated.
Authorities are intensifying their efforts to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrator to justice.