作者： admin

BELIZE CITY – The vibrant community of Belize City is grappling with profound grief following the tragic killing of Wayne Myles, a cherished 61-year-old street vendor affectionately known as ‘Pie Bwai’. The incident occurred on the night of Friday, December 1st, 2025, within the confines of his own residence on 11th Street, sending shockwaves throughout the Old Capital.

Myles, renowned for his decades of dedicated service as a food vendor and his consistently warm, peaceful demeanor, was discovered by his brother Floyd Myles bleeding fatally in his bathroom. According to preliminary police reports, an armed assailant entered the property, initially discharging a firearm into the air. When Myles opened his window to investigate the commotion, the gunman fired two additional shots, one of which struck and mortally wounded the beloved vendor.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, who personally knew Myles, described the victim as an individual who ‘exuded nothing but peace’ and was universally loved within the community. Investigators are actively pursuing the theory that Myles was not the intended target of the attack. Police attention has turned toward another occupant of the property who has previously faced charges for gang-related activities, suggesting the shooting may have been a case of mistaken identity or targeted retaliation gone awry.

This tragic event marks the second shooting incident at the same residence in recent years. In June 2022, 26-year-old Jordan Bradley was fatally shot on the property, an incident that Myles himself had witnessed and commented on at the time. Ironically, a decade earlier, false rumors had circulated claiming Myles had been killed, which he promptly dispelled.

The loss of ‘Pie Bwai’ has created a significant void in the community where he was known for his strong work ethic, daily acts of kindness including feeding pigeons, and his positive interactions with residents across all segments of society. As authorities continue their search for the perpetrator, Belize City mourns the senseless loss of a man who represented the very antithesis of the violence that claimed his life.

Belize City confronts a devastating surge in lethal violence following two separate shooting incidents that claimed lives within a twenty-four hour period, leaving communities in mourning and raising urgent questions about public safety.

In the first tragedy, Wayne ‘Pie Bwai’ Myles, a recognized street vendor, was discovered deceased inside his Eleventh Street residence on Friday evening. The circumstances surrounding his killing remain under police investigation.

The violence continued on Saturday night when Earl Archer Jr., a 41-year-old contractor and father of four originally from Orange Walk, was ambushed while returning home from visiting his girlfriend. Multiple gunshots were fired in his direction on Pelican Street Extension shortly after 10:30 p.m. Despite immediate transportation to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, medical personnel were unable to save him.

According to ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, patrol officers in the vicinity heard the gunfire and responded promptly. ‘Scenes of crime personnel processed the location and conducted area searches for potential witnesses,’ Smith stated. ‘While Archer was known to police, no connections to gang activity have been established, and investigators have not determined a motive.’

The shooting occurred mere minutes from Archer’s home, with family members hearing the fatal shots unaware their relative was the target. His brother, Kenrick Archer, described the profound devastation felt by the family and their heightened sense of vulnerability.

‘As a Black man on Belize City’s southside, maintaining constant vigilance isn’t optional—it’s a survival necessity,’ Kenrick Archer expressed. He remembered his brother as the family protector who consistently ensured others’ safety, noting that Earl had recently relocated to Belize City for employment opportunities and to be nearer to family while raising his young child.

Beyond their immediate grief, the Archer family now navigates complex fears about their security and expresses dwindling confidence in the judicial system’s capacity to deliver meaningful justice. ‘The justice system is failing us,’ Kenrick Archer stated, emphasizing reliance on faith and the hope that karma would ultimately address the unresolved violence.

These consecutive fatalities have intensified calls from residents for effective interventions to curb the escalating bloodshed plaguing their communities. Both investigations remain active as authorities pursue leads in these separate incidents.

A celebratory occasion transformed into profound tragedy in Stann Creek District when Pastor Julian Bol, 53, lost his life in a catastrophic highway accident while en route to his son’s wedding preparations. The fatal incident occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning as Bol departed Maya Mopan Village to collect catering staff for the imminent nuptial ceremony.

According to official police reports provided by ASP Stacy Smith, the collision transpired approximately at 4:35 a.m. along the Thomas Vincent Highway near San Juan Village. Investigative findings indicate that Bol’s blue passenger van collided with a detached wooden structure that had become dislodged from a transport trailer traveling in convoy formation.

The transport operation, consisting of multiple vehicles moving southbound toward Independence Village, reportedly attempted to alert oncoming traffic through visual signals. Witness accounts from the lead driver confirm attempts to warn approaching vehicles through headlight flashing maneuvers before the audible impact occurred.

Police personnel arriving at the scene discovered the extensively damaged passenger van approximately 800 feet from the dislocated wooden house in a pine ridge area. Tragically, Pastor Bol was pronounced deceased at the scene, presumably from immediate impact forces. A thirteen-year-old minor accompanying the pastor remarkably sustained no physical injuries.

Authorities have initiated comprehensive investigations to determine regulatory compliance regarding the transportation permit conditions for the oversized load. The tragic incident has left the community and bereaved family grappling with profound loss during what was anticipated as a joyous celebration.