The family of Ryan Hyde is grappling with grief and uncertainty following his untimely death. Hyde, a resident of Cotton Tree Village, Cayo, was shot in the head on Friday night and succumbed to his injuries at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City on Monday evening. His sister, Christie Cruz, expressed the family’s anguish and confusion, stating, ‘We’re still in the dark. We’re still trying to figure out the pieces.’ Cruz revealed that social media was the first source of information about the shooting, highlighting the disconnect between public knowledge and family awareness.
Hyde, originally from Roaring Creek, was not at home when the incident occurred. Cruz recounted the emotional rollercoaster of seeing him in the hospital, initially hopeful for his recovery, only to face the devastating news of his passing. ‘It’s really gut-wrenching,’ she said.
Addressing rumors surrounding the motive, Cruz believes her brother was unfairly targeted due to his last name. ‘With that last name, we’re just blatantly branded as bad… gun, drugs. We don’t have the ability to come from under that banner,’ she lamented. Despite public perception, Cruz described Hyde as a loving and kind individual, cherished by his family. He was in the process of opening a meat shop and was the father of two young boys.
The family is now awaiting the results of the police investigation and postmortem as they prepare to lay Hyde to rest.