A deadly attack at a San Pedro supermarket has left two people dead and sparked public outcry, with the island’s Lebanese community taking to the streets on June 29, 2026 to demand accountability from local law enforcement.
By 3:15 p.m. that afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators had assembled outside the San Pedro Police Station, channeling widespread grief and frustration over the fatal killings of local businessman David Harmouch and on-site security guard Daniel Jones. As tensions rose over what many community members see as slow progress in the investigation, protesters deployed a fleet of golf carts — a common mode of transport on the island — to block access points around the police station perimeter, grinding vehicle traffic in the surrounding area to a complete standstill.
Beyond calls for a swift and transparent investigation, News Five has confirmed that Harmouch’s immediate family is pushing authorities to release his remains, so that he can be transported to his native Lebanon for a traditional burial according to his family’s wishes. This remains an active and developing story, and updates will be provided as new details from the investigation emerge.
As the community enters a period of mourning, public figures and colleagues across Belize’s political and business spheres are remembering Harmouch not just as a successful entrepreneur, but as a committed community member and political ally. Harmouch was an active participant in local public life, previously serving as a delegate on the United Democratic Party (UDP) Belize Rural South Executive Committee, and supported the party through both on-the-ground organizing and resource contributions for many years.
In an exclusive interview with News Five, UDP caretaker and Senator Gabriel Zetina opened up about his decades-long personal relationship with Harmouch and the shock of the attack. “A thing many people do not know is that through David I got my first golf cart and this was many, many years ago. So, but within the island, David has always been there. But even more so with the party, through time, resources. He was a former executive member and he would always show up for the party when it mattered the most,” Zetina recalled.
Zetina shared that he is still reeling from the unexpected tragedy, and traveled to San Pedro immediately to pay his respects to Harmouch’s family. He noted that the killing is particularly devastating because Harmouch had only recently rebuilt his supermarket following an earlier arson attack that destroyed the original store. “He did a lot of sacrifices, because the first time they burnt it down. This time he did a lot of sacrifices to get it reopened. It is unfortunate that as he reopens it, this happens to him,” Zetina said. “I can only now think about his kids and his wife and family, how they might be feeling. For us it is a big loss. David was always there for us.”
Andre Perez, the elected Area Representative for Belize Rural South, also released a public statement of condolence via his official Facebook page. In the post, Perez extended his sympathy to the families of both victims, and wrote that he has full confidence in local law enforcement to carry out a full, thorough investigation and hold all perpetrators accountable for the attack.
This report is a transcript of an evening television newscast, with Kriol-language remarks transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accuracy.