by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. June 8, 2023

Shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 5, a teenage boy, who just a few years ago had been subjected to torture that had been live-streamed and seen by many Belizeans, was gunned down on Fabers Road in Belize City in the vicinity of St. John Vianney Primary School. The teen was identified as 18-year-old Trevor Thompson, a construction worker of Rivero Street, Belize City.

According to initial reports, Thompson, who had recently returned to Belize City from Ladyville, where he had been working for a period of time, was riding a bicycle toward his mother’s home on Fabers Road, after purchasing a bun and cheese for their supper, when an unknown assailant fired several gunshots in his direction, which severely wounded him.

Amateur cell phone footage of Thompson’s motionless body lying on the pavement made its rounds on social media that same night. He was later picked up by persons in the area and placed in the back of a police mobile which transported him to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he passed away minutes later as a result of the severity of his injuries.

Thompson, who according to reports had moved back to Belize City a little less than a month ago after losing his job in Ladyville, had not been known as a gang affiliate, but as a person who did errands for others.

Approximately two years ago, when Thompson was reportedly a minor, he had, according to his mother, been held against his will by persons who had sent him to do an errand, and had been tortured while he was in their home. Those men had streamed the incident live on social media. In that publicized clip, Thompson was seen being hit in the head and shocked by live wires, and, even more disturbingly, the tip of his pinky finger was sliced off.

On Wednesday, June 7, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams informed local reporters that there had been another shooting moments before Thompson was killed.

“It happened in the dark of night, and it was raining heavily, and so the police were not out as they would have been, and I guess the shooter took advantage of that opportunity. Not many people were out to be able to see what took place, so getting the identity of the person who is responsible at this time is extremely difficult,” he said.

ComPol Williams noted that they have some persons in their custody who they believe might have been involved; however, no one has been charged yet; also, a motive has yet to be established, although, according to Williams, the police are considering the possibility that the prosecution of the persons accused of torturing Thompson – which has been an ongoing court proceeding—could be tied to his death. When questioned about that court proceeding, Williams told a local reporter, “Yes that matter is still before the court where Oliver Sutherland was charged in respect to an incident against him. We have been made to understand that he had received threats from certain persons in respect of that matter and so that’s also a possibility that we’re looking at.”