A weekend shooting incident in Dangriga has left community members alarmed after an innocent fisherman became the unintended victim of targeted gun violence in a public space. The brazen attack occurred on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at approximately 6:15 PM near the bustling fish shed along Riverside Street—a location regularly frequented by local residents and workers.
According to official police statements provided by ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, thirty-four-year-old Berchel Balthazar, a Belizean fisherman from the Wagierale area, sustained gunshot wounds during the incident. Preliminary investigations indicate that two unidentified males aboard a motorcycle arrived at the location and discharged multiple rounds toward the area before swiftly fleeing the scene.
Law enforcement authorities have confirmed that Mr. Balthazar, who was promptly transported to Southern Regional Hospital for treatment, was not the intended target of the shooting. Investigators have collected substantial surveillance footage from the vicinity and are currently analyzing this evidence to advance their investigation and identify the perpetrators.
The incident has heightened existing concerns about the potential spillover of gang-related violence into public commercial areas, threatening the safety of ordinary citizens going about their daily activities. Police continue to pursue active leads while the community remains on alert following this disturbing violation of public security.