On May 5, 2026, law enforcement in Belize City launched an investigation into a fatal public shooting that shook the community along the Philip Goldson Highway, a major thoroughfare that sees regular daily traffic. The brazen attack, carried out in full view of daytime passersby, has left one man dead and a second victim with non-fatal injuries, according to initial official updates.
Authorities have publicly identified the two men targeted in the attack as Hubert Baptist and Eric Fraser. The assault unfolded just after 3:00 p.m. local time, as the pair were traveling through the Mile 4 district near the Haulover Bridge. Within minutes of the incident, first responders arrived at the scene to secure the area and provide emergency medical care, but Baptist could not be saved.
Witness accounts and preliminary police reports detail a coordinated premeditated attack: a midsize sport utility vehicle pursued the victims’ car for an unknown distance before pulling alongside to the passenger or driver side. Once aligned, an unidentified gunman inside the pursuing vehicle opened fire directly on the victims. Multiple witnesses reported hearing more than 12 gunshots ring out in quick succession during the assault.
Struck by gunfire, the victims’ vehicle went off the road and lost control, eventually flipping over before coming to a stop. First responders extracted both men from the overturned vehicle immediately after the shooting.
As of the latest update, Belize City police have not released any information about possible suspects, motives for the attack, or a timeline for further public updates. This investigation remains an active, developing story, with law enforcement still processing evidence and interviewing witnesses to piece together the full sequence of events.