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Independence Village, Stann Creek District, Belize – A tranquil New Year’s Eve celebration turned into a scene of horror as a mass shooting erupted at the Feel Good Restaurant and Bar, resulting in one fatality and six individuals sustaining gunshot wounds. This incident, now recognized as one of the most severe mass shootings in Belize’s history, has plunged the community into a state of shock and mourning.

According to authorities, the assailant arrived on a motorcycle and discharged multiple rounds at a specific individual believed to be the primary target. The intended victim, struck several times, frantically sought refuge by dashing through the crowded establishment and vaulting a fence into the backyard, leaving behind a Rastafarian head wrap in his desperate escape. The gunman subsequently fled the scene.

Among the wounded was Rome, a survivor who recounted his experience. He was awaiting an order of fried chicken with his back to the door, enjoying music and a drink, when the shooting commenced. Initially mistaking the gunfire for a lone firecracker, he continued his activities until he noticed blood streaming down his body. Disoriented and intoxicated, he has little recollection of how he was transported to the hospital but confirmed he never lost consciousness.

The community’s loss was personified by Keith Neal, who succumbed to his injuries at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital on Thursday after being transferred from the Southern Regional Hospital. His sister, Shannon Neal, described him as a humble, non-confrontational man whose world revolved around providing a better life for his five-year-old daughter and his niece. He was a regular at the establishment, simply seeking to enjoy the New Year’s festivities.
His family is now burdened with funeral preparations and the heartrending duty of preserving his memory for his young daughter while vehemently demanding justice. Shannon Neal asserts that her brother identified his assailant while on the ground, a individual reportedly well-known within the community.

Law enforcement, under the direction of ASP Stacy Smith, has secured surveillance footage and several pieces of evidence deemed critical to the investigation. Police are actively seeking two persons of interest and have cautioned the public that harboring or concealing wanted individuals is a criminal offense. While the investigation is ongoing, a drug-related motive is among the primary angles being explored by detectives.

Pomona Village was struck by tragedy on New Year’s Eve when a shooting incident claimed the lives of two young men, transforming what began as a festive gathering into a scene of horror. Twenty-three-year-old Zion Samuels and twenty-two-year-old Luke Chavarria were fatally shot while socializing with four other friends on the porch of Samuels’ residence just before midnight.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, preliminary investigations indicate that a lone gunman approached the group and discharged multiple rounds before fleeing the scene. The four surviving individuals managed to escape unharmed from the barrage of gunfire. Law enforcement authorities have not yet established a definitive motive for the attack, though the property has previously been subject to multiple police operations related to narcotics activities.

The victims were described as lifelong friends and neighbors who grew up together in the community. Zion Samuels leaves behind a young child, while both families struggle to comprehend the sudden loss. Mark Samuels, Zion’s father, expressed profound grief, stating he consistently ‘gives everything to the Lord’ in coping with the tragedy.

Neidia Guzman, a family friend and former babysitter to Samuels, remembered both young men as positive community members who were actively involved in sports and family life. ‘They were good friends from little boys,’ Guzman recalled. ‘He goes to work, comes home, his kids, loving at home. We feel it, our family feels it because they grew up with me.’

The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to search for the unidentified suspect who escaped the area following the shooting. The house where the incident occurred now bears visible bullet holes, serving as a stark reminder of the violence that disrupted the New Year’s celebration.

BELIZE CITY – The dawn of 2026 was marked by tragedy in Belize’s Old Capital as a fatal shooting on New Year’s Eve claimed the life of 45-year-old Ian Arthurs. The incident occurred at the intersection of Waight Street and Faber’s Road, leaving a family shattered and a community grappling with persistent violence.

Sheryl Arthurs, the victim’s sister, stood at the crime scene the following morning, confronting the painful reality of her brother’s untimely death. In an emotional tribute, she recounted her brother’s encouraging spirit, hearing his voice urging her to find strength despite the overwhelming grief.

The sequence of events began with an ominous premonition. Sheryl Arthurs, who resides near Waight Street, had expressed concerns about the area’s notorious reputation during holiday celebrations. She specifically warned her visiting daughter, Sheryln Butler, to avoid the street entirely. Ironically, Ian Arthurs offered his niece a ride home, choosing the very route his sister had deemed dangerous.

As Ian parked his vehicle to let Butler disembark, an assailant opened fire. The initial sounds were mistaken for holiday fireworks—a common phenomenon that complicates shooting identification during New Year’s celebrations. Butler only realized the severity of the situation when she felt a burning sensation and discovered she had been shot. She escaped by rolling under the vehicle while Ian remained inside, already fatally wounded.

Family members assert Ian was not the intended target, suggesting the gunman was actually pursuing the vehicle’s owner—one of Ian’s friends. This tragic case of mistaken identity highlights the collateral damage of targeted violence. Sheryl Arthurs emphasized her brother’s peaceful nature while acknowledging she couldn’t control his associations, stating: ‘I can’t choose his friends. God give people free will and even God doesn’t have control of free will.’

The victim leaves behind five children, including a two-year-old daughter. Disturbingly, this wasn’t the first attempt on Ian’s life. In 2017, a similar attack left two of Sheryl’s children with permanent gunshot scars—a grim legacy that now compounds the family’s trauma.

As investigations continue, the Arthurs family faces the new year with memories instead of moments, joining countless families affected by Belize’s ongoing struggle with violent crime.

Belize City authorities have officially classified the fatal shooting of Ian Arthurs on New Year’s Eve as a gang-related incident, despite vehement denials from the victim’s family regarding his alleged gang affiliations.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, the violent episode unfolded when Arthurs was operating a pickup truck at the intersection of Kraal Road and Faber’s Road. An unidentified assailant on a motorcycle opened fire on the vehicle, resulting in Arthurs’ death and injuring a female passenger identified as Ms. Butler.

Police investigations have revealed significant contextual evidence linking the homicide to ongoing gang tensions. ASP Smith confirmed that law enforcement is examining potential connections to another shooting incident that occurred on December 29th, suggesting the possibility of retaliatory violence.

The victim’s background has become a focal point in the investigation. Official records indicate Arthurs had pending litigation regarding alleged gang membership at the time of his death, alongside a prior conviction for possession of a prohibited firearm. These factors, combined with the geographical context of the shooting in a known gang-operating territory, have solidified the police’s classification of the case as gang-related.

Authorities continue to pursue active investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, examining all possible angles and motivations behind the targeted attack.

Authorities have launched a public appeal for information regarding two individuals wanted for questioning in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation in Bella Vista. The police are seeking twenty-two-year-old Santos Chirinos and twenty-two-year-old Dixon Caceres, though specific charges have not been formally disclosed.

Authorities in Belize’s Old Capital district are implementing intensified security measures amid growing concerns about potential gang-related retaliation following two recent shootings. The situation escalated significantly after the fatal shooting of Ian Arthurs, which occurred shortly after another violent incident on Crawl Road.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, serving as Staff Officer, addressed public safety concerns while confirming that investigators are examining possible connections between the two incidents. Although no definitive link has been established between the Arthurs murder and the earlier Crawl Road shooting, police are actively exploring the theory that these events represent escalating tensions between rival gangs operating within a concentrated urban area.

The police department emphasizes that both operational tactics and community outreach initiatives remain actively deployed to prevent further violence. ASP Smith highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts, stating that while law enforcement maintains intelligence-driven operations and neighborhood policing strategies, residents themselves play a crucial role in de-escalating tensions and ensuring community security.

Police response times have been described as reasonable, with one individual already apprehended in connection with the recent violence. The department reassures citizens that their safety mandate continues through coordinated interventions, while simultaneously calling for public cooperation in sharing information and helping to reduce existing tensions in the affected neighborhoods.

In a strategic operation marking the final hours of 2025, Belizean law enforcement authorities successfully apprehended a suspected drug trafficker in Orange Walk District. The targeted anti-narcotics mission, executed on December 31st at approximately 9:40 PM, resulted in the arrest of Henry William Cawich, a 36-year-old electrician from Trinidad Village.

Acting upon verified intelligence reports, specialized police units accompanied by canine support personnel conducted a sanctioned search of the suspect’s residence. The operation yielded substantial evidence: seven transparent bags containing multiple parcels of suspected cocaine, all concealed within a single plastic container. The total confiscated substance weighed twenty-one grams.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, Staff Officer overseeing the operation, confirmed that the suspect was present during the search procedure. Following the discovery, Cawich was formally arrested and charged with possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, a serious criminal offense under Belizean narcotics legislation.

The year-end operation demonstrates the continued vigilance of Belize’s anti-narcotics units in combating drug trafficking networks. Such coordinated efforts between intelligence divisions and canine units represent ongoing strategies to disrupt the distribution of illicit substances within local communities.