Police stalled on finding Kareem Clarke killer

Saturday, July 11^th, 2015. Aaron Humes Reporting: Funeral services for late Amandala journalist Kareem Clarke, 27 years old, were held this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph R.C. Church, preceded by reflections beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Earlier this week, KREM News aired exclusively the surveillance video that captured Kareem’s murder, which took place around 12:30 in the morning on Monday, July 6 on the approach of the bridge on Vernon Street at its intersection with Lakeview Street in Belize City.

The time span between Kareem being shot and on the ground to the police coming into the frame of the video is only but a few seconds, yet no suspect was apprehended in the area and it is unclear if there was any attempt to immediately canvass the area for the shooter or shooters.

On Friday Senior Superintendent of Police Chester Williams, Officer Commanding Eastern Division, Southside was about the surveillance footage capturing the murder.  He said that the officers who first arrived on the scene have been interviewed, but he is not satisfied with what he has learned thus far and will be looking into it.

Williams says the investigation into Kareem’s murder is ongoing and that they actually have the name of the person who they believe shot and killed him.  He lamented however that despite the fact that people saw what happened, they are reluctant to give witness statements.

Williams said the implosion of the Mayflower area Ghosttown Crips gang has resulted in several murders in the area and the shooters in those other incidents are known to them.  This increase in shootings in the area has resulted in some Elders in Mayflower approaching the police to intervene.

Williams says he believes that with the intervention of the elders in the Mayflower community, a change is coming and he feels hopeful that peace can be restored.

The Kremandala organization has offered a reward of $4,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction, while media colleagues have started a memorial fund to contribute to the St. Joseph R.C. School Feeding Programme.