On a quiet Saturday evening in late July 2026, what was supposed to be a joyous weekend of preparation for a mother’s birthday turned into an unspeakable tragedy in the small community of Unitedville, Cayo District. Twin brothers Denvoy and Delroy Bartley had traveled into the village to help arrange festivities for their mother’s big day, but their plans were violently cut short when an unidentified gunman stepped out of nearby thick brush and opened fire on the group. By the time first responders arrived on scene, 25-year-old Denvoy Bartley was pronounced dead from his gunshot wounds, while his twin brother Delroy was rushed to a local medical facility with non-life-threatening injuries and remains in stable condition as he recovers.
Within days of the ambush, law enforcement announced a breakthrough in the case: 20-year-old Kevan Anthony Alford, a local construction worker based in Unitedville, has been formally arrested and charged in connection with the attack. Alford faces a slate of criminal charges that include murder, attempted murder, use of deadly force, and unlawful wounding for the attack on the Bartley brothers. He also faces an additional charge of attempted murder linked to a separate victim, Albert Bennett, connected to the same incident.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith detailed the timeline of the investigation in an official statement, noting that officers received the first report of gunfire just after 8:30 p.m. on July 25. Initial investigative findings confirm that the two brothers were standing with another man in front of a local residence when the shooter emerged from the surrounding foliage to open fire. Investigators say the suspected motive for the ambush ties back to a long-running dispute related to drug activity in the area.
The tragedy has shaken residents of the tight-knit Unitedville community, many of whom knew the Bartley brothers well. A close neighbor and family friend, who asked to speak on background, recalled the brothers’ final visit just hours before the shooting. She shared that the pair had spent the day socializing with local residents, arranging for a birthday cake and catered chicken for their mother’s celebration, and interacting with neighbors like they always did. She noted that the twins were regular visitors to the village, coming often to check on their ailing mother, and were considered part of the extended community by many long-time residents. “We never thought this would be the last time we saw him,” she shared of Denvoy, recalling a casual interaction just hours before the attack that still feels surreal to her.
This is not the first time Denvoy Bartley has been linked to violent criminal activity: court records show he was charged with the 2023 murder of 24-year-old Lionel Lee Budna, but the case against him was dismissed in 2024 after prosecutors entered a nolle prosequi, leaving him acquitted of all charges.
In the wake of the shooting, Belizean law enforcement has stepped up its presence in Unitedville to address community concerns over rising violent crime. Smith confirmed that the department has deployed tactical teams to carry out targeted strategic operations in the area, and recent efforts have already led to major seizures: just prior to the Bartley shooting, officers intercepted a vehicle of interest and recovered two illegal firearms from the vehicle. Smith added that investigators have also worked closely with community members who have pushed back against violent criminal activity in their neighborhood, and new investigative technology has played a key role in moving the case against Alford forward quickly.
For the Bartley family, what was meant to be a weekend of celebration has now become a time of mourning. The family is now making funeral arrangements for Denvoy, rather than gathering to honor his mother’s birthday, leaving the small community of Unitedville reeling from the senseless violence that has cut a young life short.