Belize City confronts a devastating surge in lethal violence following two separate shooting incidents that claimed lives within a twenty-four hour period, leaving communities in mourning and raising urgent questions about public safety.
In the first tragedy, Wayne ‘Pie Bwai’ Myles, a recognized street vendor, was discovered deceased inside his Eleventh Street residence on Friday evening. The circumstances surrounding his killing remain under police investigation.
The violence continued on Saturday night when Earl Archer Jr., a 41-year-old contractor and father of four originally from Orange Walk, was ambushed while returning home from visiting his girlfriend. Multiple gunshots were fired in his direction on Pelican Street Extension shortly after 10:30 p.m. Despite immediate transportation to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, medical personnel were unable to save him.
According to ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, patrol officers in the vicinity heard the gunfire and responded promptly. ‘Scenes of crime personnel processed the location and conducted area searches for potential witnesses,’ Smith stated. ‘While Archer was known to police, no connections to gang activity have been established, and investigators have not determined a motive.’
The shooting occurred mere minutes from Archer’s home, with family members hearing the fatal shots unaware their relative was the target. His brother, Kenrick Archer, described the profound devastation felt by the family and their heightened sense of vulnerability.
‘As a Black man on Belize City’s southside, maintaining constant vigilance isn’t optional—it’s a survival necessity,’ Kenrick Archer expressed. He remembered his brother as the family protector who consistently ensured others’ safety, noting that Earl had recently relocated to Belize City for employment opportunities and to be nearer to family while raising his young child.
Beyond their immediate grief, the Archer family now navigates complex fears about their security and expresses dwindling confidence in the judicial system’s capacity to deliver meaningful justice. ‘The justice system is failing us,’ Kenrick Archer stated, emphasizing reliance on faith and the hope that karma would ultimately address the unresolved violence.
These consecutive fatalities have intensified calls from residents for effective interventions to curb the escalating bloodshed plaguing their communities. Both investigations remain active as authorities pursue leads in these separate incidents.