Independence Village, Stann Creek District, Belize – A tranquil New Year’s Eve celebration turned into a scene of horror as a mass shooting erupted at the Feel Good Restaurant and Bar, resulting in one fatality and six individuals sustaining gunshot wounds. This incident, now recognized as one of the most severe mass shootings in Belize’s history, has plunged the community into a state of shock and mourning.
According to authorities, the assailant arrived on a motorcycle and discharged multiple rounds at a specific individual believed to be the primary target. The intended victim, struck several times, frantically sought refuge by dashing through the crowded establishment and vaulting a fence into the backyard, leaving behind a Rastafarian head wrap in his desperate escape. The gunman subsequently fled the scene.
Among the wounded was Rome, a survivor who recounted his experience. He was awaiting an order of fried chicken with his back to the door, enjoying music and a drink, when the shooting commenced. Initially mistaking the gunfire for a lone firecracker, he continued his activities until he noticed blood streaming down his body. Disoriented and intoxicated, he has little recollection of how he was transported to the hospital but confirmed he never lost consciousness.
The community’s loss was personified by Keith Neal, who succumbed to his injuries at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital on Thursday after being transferred from the Southern Regional Hospital. His sister, Shannon Neal, described him as a humble, non-confrontational man whose world revolved around providing a better life for his five-year-old daughter and his niece. He was a regular at the establishment, simply seeking to enjoy the New Year’s festivities.
His family is now burdened with funeral preparations and the heartrending duty of preserving his memory for his young daughter while vehemently demanding justice. Shannon Neal asserts that her brother identified his assailant while on the ground, a individual reportedly well-known within the community.
Law enforcement, under the direction of ASP Stacy Smith, has secured surveillance footage and several pieces of evidence deemed critical to the investigation. Police are actively seeking two persons of interest and have cautioned the public that harboring or concealing wanted individuals is a criminal offense. While the investigation is ongoing, a drug-related motive is among the primary angles being explored by detectives.