Local News

There was a murder last Friday night in Belize City.  It happened just before ten that night in the Lake Independence area and claimed the life of twenty year Miraldo Alvarez, an unemployed of Guzman Crescent in the Belama Phase one Extension area.  Alvarez was shot in the lower left back while he and another youth rode on separate bicycles on McKenzie Street just behind the Charles Bartlett Hyde Building.  Eyewitnesses told the police that Alvarez was shot from behind by one of two youths who were by the nearby basketball court on Mckenzie Street.  Today at their regular press conference, Police Press Officer, Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood, shed light on the incident.

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Police Press Officer

Belize Police Department

“When investigators visited the KHMH they saw him with a gunshot wound to the lower back area.  Initial investigations reveal that Alvarez and another friend were riding on separate bicycles on McKenzie Street in the St. Martin de Porres area and upon reaching the junction of Lewis Street, they were approached from behind by two male persons who were in the area of the basketball court.  One of the men pulled out a firearm and fired several shots toward them – one fatally injuring Alvarez.  Alvarez succumbed to his injuries a little after ten at the KHMH whilst undergoing operations.”

Police have detained one person pending investigations.  Meanwhile, there were a number of shootings that occurred in the old capital as well.  Police cannot determine if the killing was gang-related, but Yearwood confirmed that Alvarez’ companion lives in the area where a known street gang operates.   Meanwhile, a student was also shot on Saturday in the Lake I area, but his injury was less severe than Alvarez’, according to Yearwood.

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Police Press Officer

Belize Police Department

“When Police visited the KHMH they saw him suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the left shoulder.  Initial investigations reveal that Nicholas was walking on Alicia Street when a clear complexioned male person rode up beside him on a beach cruiser bicycle; this person said to him, ‘let me see your face,’ the male person then pulled out a firearm and fired a single shot in his direction, causing his injury.”

A second shooting happened on Saturday, this time on the north side of town.

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Police Press Officer

Belize Police Department

“Police visited the KHMH around 10:55am where they saw Ernest Vasquez, 42 years of #106 Euphrates Avenue suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper left thigh and left leg.  Initial investigations reveal that Police were on patrol and responded to a theft in progress on Marine Parade and upon arrival they saw Vasquez attempting to steal aluminum pipes off a chain link fence on Marine Parade.  Upon seeing the Police he tried to escape where they pursued him and he was shot in the leg.  We are still investigating this shooting incident also.”

On Sunday, yet another shooting occurred, this time in the Collet Division near the Vernon Street B ridge. 

FITZROY YEARWOOD

Police Press Officer

Belize Police Department

“Police visited the KHMH where they saw Edmond Gentle, 24 years – a Messenger suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the right index finger and middle finger.  Initial investigations reveal that Gentle was riding contrary to the free flow of traffic on Vernon Street near a Chinese shop with another friend when a man came out of an alley near Lakeview Street, called out for him, he responded – the person then took out a firearm and fired several shots towards his direction, causing his injuries - so apparently he knows his assailant.”

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