A pre-dawn ambush has left a 40-year-old Orange Walk resident dead, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Baeza Alley and leaving his grieving family calling for urgent action from law enforcement. Jose Sosa Sr., widely known by his nickname “Bones,” was killed in the attack in the early hours of Sunday, September 13, 2026, when an unidentified motorcyclist pulled up to his home and opened fire.
According to official details from Belize’s National Crime Investigation Branch, Sosa was relaxing in a hammock on the second-floor veranda of his home, waiting for his son who lived next door to return, when the attacker struck. The gunman, who hid his face behind a black helmet, fired multiple rounds at Sosa before fleeing the scene on his motorcycle. Neighbors who heard the gunshots rushed to the scene immediately, called police and arranged emergency transport for Sosa to the Northern Regional Hospital. Despite the quick response, Sosa succumbed to his gunshot wounds not long after arrival.
ACP Hilberto Romero, head of the National Crime Investigation Branch, told reporters that investigators are working under the working theory that the killing is connected to drug activity. Law enforcement had prior encounters with Sosa dating back more than a decade, including a violent 2015 incident where he was shot in the foot after allegedly attacking multiple people with lumber and steel pieces. But Sosa’s family pushes back against attempts to frame the killing as a justified outcome of his past, saying he had turned his life around in recent years.
In an interview with local outlet News Five, Sosa’s son spoke publicly about his father’s transformation, confirming that he had made mistakes earlier in life but had changed his ways. “He wasn’t going out much anymore, he minded his own business, he took care of himself and helped everyone in the community,” his son said, speaking in local Kriol. “He wasn’t perfect, but he was trying his best.”
Relatives remember Sosa as a hardworking, generous father who provided for his family and was always willing to lend a hand to neighbors in need. Described as a warm, playful person who loved to dance and joke with those around him, Sosa never shared any information about potential threats with his family, leaving them completely blindsided by the attack.
As of Monday, no arrests have been made in connection with the killing. Police confirmed they are currently following multiple lines of inquiry and have identified several persons of interest as they work to track down the responsible party and bring closure to the Sosa family. The family says they will not rest until justice is served for their loved one, and are calling on anyone with information about the attack to come forward to law enforcement.