By Aaron Humes: A shooting incident at a basketball court in the Lake Independence area on Friday night has left four men injured, reigniting concerns about public safety in the community. Police are now seeking to tighten bail conditions for one of the victims, 22-year-old Jahreem “32” Staine, who has been linked to prior incidents of violence.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, surveillance footage captured the moment a gunman emerged from behind the bleachers and opened fire on a group sitting nearby. The injured include Staine, along with 22-year-old Devon Parham, 27-year-old Anthony Reyes, and 27-year-old Tyrique Westby.
ASP Smith reported, “What we have learned so far, and I must say that the incident was captured on police surveillance camera, is that those four male persons along with others were on the bleachers in front of the basketball court when a male person emerged from behind the bleachers and went onto the court and fired several shots, which resulted in the aforementioned injuries. The surveillance camera and the footage there from is being meticulously scrutinized with a view of apprehending these assailants or this assailant.”
As for Staine, his tumultuous recent history with the law and brushes with death in public places including the Magistrate’s Court and a major highway last year has prompted police to prepare an application for stricter bail conditions ahead of a hearing in the High Court. ASP Smith confirmed that Staine’s bail is already subject to restrictions regarding his presence in certain locations, but noted that a guilty plea to breach of bail conditions recently allowed him to remain free. “I know that the conditions of his bail included that he ought not to be in certain places around certain times. However, certainly when that matter will be addressed, which I anticipate it will be at the High Court, it will certainly be for more stringent provisions to be placed. You would also note that he was recently released, I believe, on [February 11] and it was just, I think a few days after that he was once again arrested for being in breach of his bail conditions. The prosecutor objected to bail. [Staine] changed his plea to guilty and he was fined and that was the reason that he was out on the street. However, as I stated, we’re in the process of having the necessary documents be placed before the High Court to address the matter in that venue.”
ASP Smith added that while Smith has a personal right to liberty, there is a limitation in respect of the public interest and in this case, his own safety, a consideration on which the court must and will decide.
Police investigation continues and law enforcement urges anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward to assist in apprehending the suspect responsible for this latest act of violence.
The post Gunman opens fire at basketball court, four injured; Police say Jahreem Staine a major target appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Aaron Humes: A shooting incident at a basketball court in the Lake Independence area on Friday night has left four men injured, reigniting concerns about public safety in the community. Police are now seeking to tighten bail conditions for one of the victims, 22-year-old Jahreem “32” Staine, who has been linked to prior incidents
The post Gunman opens fire at basketball court, four injured; Police say Jahreem Staine a major target appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
