On the morning of April 10, 2026, law enforcement authorities in Belize City confirmed the identity of a deceased male found earlier that day in an undeveloped area adjacent to the Port of Belize City, bringing a formal close to the hours-long search for a local fisherman reported missing just hours prior.
When first responding to the search area, officers encountered the motionless body of an adult male, who showed clear evidence of gunshot wounds to his body. Following preliminary forensic and background checks, the victim was officially identified as 18-year-old Jaheil Westby, a Belizean fisherman who resided full-time in Belize City.
The chain of events that led to the discovery began when Westby’s mother contacted Belize City Police at approximately 6:45 a.m. that same morning to file a missing person report. She told investigators that her son had failed to return home after a fishing trip the previous day, and that he was last spotted at around 3:00 p.m. Thursday, when he left their family residence accompanied by a 16-year-old male friend to head to a local fishing spot.
Acting immediately on the information provided by the mother, investigative teams launched a targeted search of the coastal region where the two teenagers had planned to fish. It was during this sweep that authorities located Westby’s body in the secluded area behind the port facility. As of the latest update, police have not released additional details about the status of the 16-year-old companion or any potential suspects or motives connected to the shooting, with the investigation still in its early active phase.