Mother Pleads for End to Violence 

Twenty-nine-year-old Charles Middleton has become the second man to die from the October 31st shooting in Belize City. 

Middleton succumbed to his injuries days after gunmen opened fire on a group of men in the Taylor’s Alley area near Cemetery Road. The shooting also claimed the life of 31-year-old Charles Nolberto and left 32-year-old Cesario Choco and 43-year-old Clifford Olivera injured. 

During last Monday’s police brief, ASP Stacy Smith confirmed that the attack was linked to rivalry between opposing gangs. 

Middleton’s mother, Stephony Neal, is now grieving the loss of her son and calling for an end to the violence.  

“I prayed day and night. Day, night, in between, and I not only pray for my kids, I pray for everybody. And I ask God, put a healing hand over this world because we need it. You understand? Because this da wa trend. We need it. We need it. Belize need it. All of we need it,” Neal said.

She added, “I can’t process this right now, miss, but I will try my best because at the end of the day, like, I still confused.” 

Neal says she has no thoughts of retaliation. She wants to bury her son in peace and focus on protecting the rest of her family.

Middleton had previously survived a shooting in Taylor’s Alley in 2012, when he was among six people injured. He and Choco were also charged in 2015 with the murder of Hattieville taxi driver Patrick Dean Spencer but were later freed after the prosecution’s case collapsed when key eyewitnesses failed to support the evidence against them.