Authorities in Belize are working around the clock to unpack the circumstances surrounding a deadly Monday night shooting that claimed the life of 33-year-old Barry Johnston in the Kings Park neighborhood of Belize City.
The violent incident unfolded at the intersection of F and Seventh Street, where first responders were dispatched immediately after multiple 911 calls reported the sound of gunfire ringing out through the area. Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement officers confirmed Johnston had suffered fatal gunshot wounds and died before emergency medical teams could intervene.
Unnamed law enforcement sources with direct knowledge of the ongoing investigation have revealed preliminary findings that suggest Johnston was followed to the shooting site before the assailant opened fire. The attacker is believed to have used an automatic-style weapon to carry out the attack. Review of nearby security camera footage captured a suspect vehicle speeding away from the scene onto 6th Street, which investigators are now using to trace potential connections to the gunman.
A second individual caught in the line of fire during the attack sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was rushed to Belize’s largest medical facility, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. As of the latest update, the unnamed second victim remains in stable condition as he recovers from his wounds.
Court and police records show that Johnston was no stranger to law enforcement involvement: he faced criminal charges back in 2015 tied to a separate firearms incident that left a 16-year-old teenager injured. The 2015 event unfolded on the grounds of Queen Square Primary School, where Johnston and two co-accused individuals—Lloyd Leslie Jr and Dwayne Evelyn—were waiting for a third person to settle an old dispute. According to original police accounts from that incident, a weapon the group was handling misfired, striking the teenage bystander. Johnston was ultimately charged with aggravated assault involving a firearm in that case. Investigators have not yet confirmed whether the 2015 dispute or any prior criminal connections are linked to Monday’s fatal shooting, and the motive for the attack remains unconfirmed as the investigation continues.