Dwayne Belfield, 41, known to his friends and companions as ‘Antz’ because of his knack for appearing out of the blue, was fatally shot on a peaceful block in Queens. Childhood friends and acquaintances recounted memories of Belfield, who was a familiar face at a barber shop in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. ‘Just a day prior to the incident, he was here, ensuring we were all doing okay,’ shared one of the barbers.
‘Since his childhood, we have known Dwayne,’ the barber continued. ‘He would often visit to keep his dreadlocks well-maintained, opting for a stylish low taper around the edges. He prided himself on his sharply executed, fresh look.’ When asked about the origin behind Belfield’s unique name, the barber turned thoughtful, ‘According to Dwayne, ants embody his personality; small, tenacious, and omnipresent. Even when you least expect him, he’s around.’
Belfield was characterized as a dynamic individual by his pals, ‘He was constantly on the move, visiting friends and ensuring their well-being’. Nevertheless, what led Belfield to Liverpool St. near Glassboro Ave. located in South Jamaica, the place where he was fatally shot in the chest early morning around 8:15 a.m. remains a mystery. Footage from the scene reveal a dark-hued BMW decelerating near the junction, as the assassin opens fire from the backseat and then hastily drives away.
As soon as the gunshots echoed, Belfield attempted to flee, only to fall after a few steps onto the pavement. Describing the strange circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident, the barber shared, ‘It’s hard to believe how it played out… Reality slowly started sinking in. It’s beyond tragic.’ Emergency services quickly transported Belfield to Jamaica Hospital, but he passed away shortly after.
Belfield was originally from Guyana. His profession involved repair work on vehicles. ‘He loved playing the drums and was incredibly good at it,’ the barber reminisced fondly. ‘His visits were always filled with positivity, full of inspiring words and vibrant energy. Conversations with him spanned multiple topics, from life and sports to relationships, rarely touching upon negative aspects.’
‘Dwayne was assertive and dependable, never hesitating to stand up for himself and those dear to him,’ the barber added. ‘An epitome of courage, radiating unyielding strength. Candid to the core.’ A day after this grievous incident, a woman of 65 years was wounded by a gunshot a little over a mile from the same barbershop. Outliers speculate that the assailant escaped in a similar black BMW.
The whole ordeal was over after eight gunshots being fired, with a witness weighing in, ‘This happened at 10 in the morning, in broad daylight, on a peaceful Sunday.’ The same witness rushed to aid the woman, ‘She wasn’t bleeding which made it seem that the bullet grazed her. Although she was in tears, me and another bystander attempted to help her up. I assured her she would be alright since there wasn’t any blood, but, the emotional trauma she must’ve been under is unimaginable.’
Emergency medical services quickly intervened to transport the wounded woman from the scene at Foster and Brooklyn Avenues to Kings County Hospital. It was approximately at 10:05 a.m. when she was wounded. Her health condition is gradually improving, and she’s expected to make a full recovery. ‘God must’ve been watching over her,’ a local claimed. ‘All she was doing was headed to the store, minding her own business, when out of nowhere, this event unfolded.’
It remains uncertain whether or not she was the intended target of the shooting. The absence of the usual police presence was underscored by a local resident, ‘There’s always a cop car stationed here, and this would not have happened if the police were present. Their mere presence acts as a deterrent, then why did the authorities withdraw it?’
‘The victim is someone we’re familiar with,’ mentioned another neighborhood resident. ‘Locally, we refer to her as “mother”. She lives in the vicinity.’ The possible link between the woman’s injury and Belfield’s murder on the preceding day remains unestablished. To date, there have been no arrests in relation to either of the shootings.
In the midst of the violence, it’s worth noting that New York City has reported its lowest count of shooting victims in the past 30 years, with the second-lowest murder rate, just in the first half of this year, as revealed earlier this month. The first half of this year has seen a total of 397 shooting victims, a noticeable decrease from last year — 125 fewer instances, which equates to a drop of 24%.
From January to June, the number of homicides has significantly decreased as well. There were recorded 146 homicides, which is 44 fewer than the same timeframe last year. This significant change is equivalent to a 23% drop. Despite the horrifying incidents of this weekend, an overall trend towards less gun violence in the city signifies progress in safety and security.
Both these instances are a stark reminder of the continuous struggle the city faces in its effort to keep its citizens safe. As investigations continue into each event, law enforcement is called upon to ensure justice is served swiftly and efficiently for both victims
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