Photo: Raheem “Footy” Arnold, deceased
by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Mon. Mar. 20, 2023
A shooting that occurred at around midday on Sunday, March 19, in the Fabers Road area claimed the life of 29-year-old Raheem “Footy” Arnold, a construction worker, who was killed in front of his home on Watermelon Street.
According to initial reports, at around 11:15 a.m. two male persons – a Hispanic described as being dressed in a black shirt and the other of East Indian descent who was reportedly dressed in a green shirt and blue jeans – entered Arnold’s home and waited for his arrival.
When Arnold arrived at his home, both assailants ambushed him, which resulted in a skirmish among them. The duo pursued Arnold inside his property, and he attempted to escape from them but four gunshots were fired at him, fatally wounding him. The men then fled the scene.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Arnold lying in a face-up position in a culvert and covered in blood, and he was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he passed away.
Reports have suggested that the shooting of Arnold stemmed from a disagreement that he had with someone approximately two weeks before his death. The family of Arnold believes that this might indeed have been the case.
Crystal Morris, the sister of Arnold, told Amandala that she believes that her brother’s death was personal.
“I think, more or less, it’s because of the baby ma children’s father, because my brother had an altercation the other day, and my brother came and told my mom about the altercation that they had. And that I feel right there caused my brother his death,” she said.
A previous attempt had been made on Arnold’s life back in 2015, but Morris does not believe that had anything to do with his murder.
“I don’t think it’s anything from in the past that my brother had, because if it was so, they would have already killed him. So, it has to be something recently that happened with those two, and I feel if it’s not those [him], then he ordered two persons to kill my brother,” Morris said.
Morris described her brother as the life of the party, and said that he would entertain friends and family with jokes.
Arnold’s family, especially his mother, is still trying to recover from the death of his brother, Devon Arnold, who was gunned down in March 2020.
It has been noted that Arnold participated in the William Dawson Peace March on Friday, March 17, and was commended by Communications Director for the Belize Police Department, ASP Fitzroy Yearwood.
“I want to say thanks to Mr. Arnold for attending the William Dawson Peace March, and we encourage more people to support that effort,” he said.
Police are still trying to locate the two men believed to be responsible for the shooting.
Arnold leaves behind one son.