Kareem Kelly 21 , the cousin of Jervis Diamonds/Valencia 38, is charged with his attempted murder,
by Anita Nembhard-Flowers
Belize City, Mon. Feb. 1, 2021
Someone definitely wanted the Mayflower gang figure Jervis Diamonds/Valencia dead last week Tuesday, January 26, 2021 when a gunman open fire shooting him as many as 4 times to the body.
Tonight police say the gunman who shot 32-year-old Jervis Diamonds/Valencia is his own cousin.
In the Belize City Magistrate’s Court this morning,
21 year-old Kareem Anthony Kelly, a laborer of a Belize City address was arraign before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett in Court #4 on three indictable criminal offenses of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm.
Allegations are that on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 he attempted to murder Jervis Diamonds/ Valencia with the use of a deadly instrument, to with, a firearm.
In court no plea was taken from Kelly who was unrepresented and due to the nature of the offense, he was denied bail and remanded into custody at the Belize Central Prison until March 29, 2021.
But before the charges could be read out to him, Kelly told the court, “I get charge for my cousin Jervis Valencia who is unable to walk and get up out of bed. “he meh deh try come to court and drop the charges through an attorney…”
Kelly further expressed to the court that Valencia who he said is his cousin wanted to know if he can do a video chat to convey the message of him not wanting to proceed with the charges against him.
But Magistrate Gillett explain to him that the court is not in any able to do that.
Prosecutor, Sergeant Noel Muschamp explain to Kelly that the procedure he must take is to have his cousin with the help of an attorney visit the police station and make a further requested of him wanting no court action, “if that’s what he wants”.
With a further statement given by the victim, they the court can act on any such request.
Last week Tuesday, January 26, 2021 sometime in the afternoon, a gunman open fire into the direction of the well-known criminal figure shooting him four times.
Valencia who was in the May Flower area also known as “Ghost Town” was hit as many as four times, once to the lower abdomen, the groin, and leg and another area of the body.
It is believed that the shooting of Diamond is a part of an internal war in that gang controlled area.
Police say as Diamond/Valencia was sitting in a yard which is his home-turf when he was approached by five men, and one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire. Diamond Valencia – who has been shot before – then dashed through the alley but was shot to the the lower abdomen, the groin, and leg.
Police are moving to try and contain any retaliation since the warring factions are reportedly from the same neighborhood.
In court today Kelly told the court, my Aunt is Valencia’s/ Diamond’s mom. We are cousins. He is my cousin.
In 2020 Valencia/Diamonds walked from the murder of Moises Gonguez which occur in the same gang rivalry area of May Flower Street.