In a breaking legal development out of Belize District, a well-known local social media creator and a Mexican businessman made their first court appearance on Monday morning, following two days of police custody stemming from early weekend gunfire reports in downtown Belize City.
Benjamin Garcia, a content creator affiliated with B Media Group, and Sergio Martinez Ramirez, a 36-year-old Mexican business owner residing in Hopkins Village, both face a single count of discharging a firearm in a public area. The charges stem from a rapid police response launched at approximately 1:30 a.m. Saturday, after multiple 911 calls reported gunshots near the popular Social Lounge venue along the Philip Goldson Highway.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero shared detailed accounts of the law enforcement operation with local media, outlining how officers moved quickly to secure the area after receiving the alert. “When our teams arrived on scene, they observed a Ford F-150 pickup truck speeding away from the vicinity of the reported gunshots,” Romero explained in an official briefing. Police immediately initiated a pursuit of the vehicle, successfully intercepting and stopping the truck near Belize City’s iconic Flag roundabout just minutes after the initial report.
When officers questioned Garcia about the presence of any firearms in the vehicle, Romero confirmed that Garcia voluntarily admitted to carrying a weapon and immediately surrendered a 9-millimeter pistol that he holds a valid license for. What remains unexplained, however, is the circumstances that led to the weapon being fired in public. According to Romero, Garcia has not provided any clear justification or explanation for why he discharged the firearm in the populated, high-traffic area adjacent to the highway.
The case has drawn local public attention due to Garcia’s profile as a recognized social media creator, turning a routine weapons charge into a widely discussed topic in Belizean community circles. As of the initial court hearing, no additional details on potential pleas, next court dates or further investigation developments have been released to the public.