A high-profile investigation into a shocking daytime shooting in Belize City has resulted in the first arrest, law enforcement authorities confirmed in an official update shared Friday. The incident, which unfolded on Monday, May 25, 2026, left 25-year-old Maleek Sutherland, a local working resident, clinging to life after a targeted attack while he was commuting to his job.
According to investigative details released by the Belize Police Department, the attack unfolded on Cleghorn Street, where an unmarked SUV pulled alongside Sutherland as he traveled to work. A person seated in the vehicle’s passenger seat opened fire on the unsuspecting victim, striking him multiple times before the SUV fled the scene. Bystanders alerted emergency responders immediately, and Sutherland was rushed to a local hospital for urgent care, where he remains in critical condition as of the latest update.
Within four days of the shooting, police took 21-year-old Jadon Young into custody and formally charged him with two offenses: attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm, confirmed Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the department. While one suspect is now behind bars, law enforcement officials noted that multiple attackers are believed to have participated in the coordinated attack, and a manhunt for remaining co-conspirators is still underway.
Investigators have not yet identified a clear motive for the shooting, and the case remains an active open investigation. ASP Smith noted in her statement that authorities expect additional arrests to be made as they continue to piece together details of the attack and track down other people connected to the incident.
This shooting is the latest high-violence incident reported in Belize City, a region that has grappled with persistent gun crime in recent years, though the motive and affiliations of those involved in this attack have not yet been made public.