A prominent Belizean tour operator is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds following a violent home invasion that has shaken the community of Frank’s Eddy Village. Bradley Paumen, owner of Dark Night Cave Tubing Adventure Park, became the victim of a targeted armed robbery on the evening of March 11, 2026, while attempting to protect his family from three masked intruders.
The incident unfolded when Paumen returned home after picking up his children from school. After briefly stepping outside, he discovered his front door unexpectedly locked—an immediate red flag that prompted his protective instincts. Upon forcing entry, he confronted the armed assailants who were already holding his nine-year-old son at gunpoint while demanding valuables from his wife.
During the ensuing struggle, Paumen sustained critical injuries including a gunshot wound to the chest that exited through his back, along with cracked ribs and extensive bruising. The businessman credits a malfunctioning firearm with saving his life, as the attackers attempted multiple times to execute him at point-blank range after he identified one assailant by pulling off his mask.
The perpetrators escaped with cash, jewelry including family heirlooms, and payroll money from Paumen’s vehicle. Belize police have since apprehended one suspect and are actively pursuing two additional individuals believed to be involved in the coordinated attack.
ASP Stacy Smith confirmed the ongoing investigation, noting that authorities are following substantial leads while maintaining operational secrecy to ensure successful prosecutions. Meanwhile, Paumen’s business has implemented enhanced security measures, including doubled patrols and increased police presence around the tourism facility.
The attack marks another chapter in Paumen’s history with violence, following his 2016 charges of abetment to murder amid a land dispute with local businessman Michael Modiri. Despite the trauma, Paumen maintains the assault was financially motivated rather than personally targeted, though the experience has left his family profoundly traumatized and concerned about potential future attacks.