分类: society

  • Man to be tried for murder over chopping death in Glen

    Man to be tried for murder over chopping death in Glen

    A fatal dispute rooted in a conflict over a plumrose has led to a Glen resident being ordered to face a murder trial at the country’s highest criminal court, court documents confirmed this week.

    Deondre McDonald, who was 27 at the time of the alleged incident, stands accused of murdering 21-year-old Ronaldo Andrews Adams, also a resident of Glen, in the East St. George community on May 14, 2025.

    Chief Magistrate Colin John made the ruling to commit the case to the High Court during a paper committal proceeding held at the Serious Offences Court on Monday. A paper committal is a procedural step in criminal justice that allows a magistrate to review whether sufficient evidence exists to advance a case to a higher court for trial, rather than holding a full preliminary hearing with live witness testimony. During this process, the magistrate reviews written witness statements alongside representatives from both the prosecution and the defense to assess the strength of the case against the accused.

    With the committal now complete, McDonald’s murder trial will proceed to be scheduled and heard by the High Court in due course.

  • ‘Shrek’ caught in clothing he wore to steal

    ‘Shrek’ caught in clothing he wore to steal

    A resident of Kingstown has been handed a concurrent five-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of trespassing with intent to commit theft, caught by law enforcement wearing the exact clothing captured on the victim’s security cameras.

    The defendant, Jamel Miller, also known by the alias Shrek, entered his guilty plea before Senior Magistrate Tammika McKenzie at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court during a hearing held on May 27. Court documents outline two separate offenses that Miller committed on the private property of Shenice Williams, a 33-year-old therapist residing in McKies Hill. The first incident took place on April 29, and the second occurred nearly a month later on May 22, with Miller entering Williams’ fenced yard on both occasions with the intention of carrying out a theft.

    Court records detail the long sequence of troubling events that led to Miller’s eventual capture. Starting in January of this year, Williams began noticing consistent damage to her vehicle, which she parked on her private driveway. The unexplained scratches quickly left her on edge, and the situation escalated when she heard unexpected knocking on her bedroom window one night. Following the incident, Williams reported feeling too unsafe to sleep in her own home.

    Williams’ property is secured by a five-foot wire perimeter fence, two metal entry gates, and a network of closed-circuit security cameras that are linked to her mobile phone, allowing remote access to live and recorded footage. On the morning of April 29 at approximately 7 a.m., Williams received an alert from her camera system on her cell phone. Pulling up the recorded footage, she identified a slim, dark-skinned male wearing a red shirt, long trousers, and slippers who had entered her property at 2:45 a.m. that same day.

    A second unauthorized entry was captured on May 22. That night, around 11 p.m., Williams was at a local bar in Richmond Hill when she received another security alert. Checking the remote footage, she spotted the same individual, again wearing a red shirt paired with white pants and carrying a red-and-black backpack, exiting her yard. She immediately contacted the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force to file a report. Patrol officer PC1090 Williams led a team of officers to the property shortly after the call, but the intruder had already left the area by the time they arrived.

    The following morning at 8:30 a.m., Williams provided the recorded CCTV footage to investigating officers. The footage was distributed across local patrol units, and Miller was quickly identified as the person captured on camera. Law enforcement apprehended Miller on White Chapel Road in central Kingstown, transporting him to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department for formal processing. After being informed of the charges against him and read his official police caution, Miller was interviewed in the presence of PC871 Lewis.

    When officers showed Miller the CCTV footage, they immediately noticed he was wearing the exact same red shirt and white pants that he had on during the May 22 intrusion captured on camera. Miller did not deny his involvement, confessing that he was the person seen in the recordings and providing a voluntary written statement to investigators admitting his guilt.

    In her final sentencing ruling, Senior Magistrate McKenzie ordered a five-month prison term for the first trespassing charge and a three-month term for the second offense. The sentences are set to run concurrently, meaning Miller will serve a total of five months behind bars beginning from the date of his conviction.

  • VIDEO: Bush fire at Tarreau

    VIDEO: Bush fire at Tarreau

    A wildfire has broken out in the Tarreau region, with flames spreading across bush land as of early this evening, according to initial on-site reports. The emergency situation, captured in on-the-ground video footage, shows active flames moving through dry vegetation in the area. Local authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the size of the blaze, potential causes, any reported injuries, or structural damage to nearby properties. Emergency response teams are expected to be deployed to assess the situation and contain the spread of the fire as quickly as possible. Residents in surrounding communities are being urged to stay alert for updated evacuation orders and safety guidance from local officials.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #30

    Leisure : Did you know ? #30

    In the 30th installment of the popular HaitiLibre “Did You Know” educational quiz series, published on April 6, 2026, readers learn little-known details about one of Haiti’s most important commercial fish: the snapper, locally known as “Sardinian”.

    Contrary to common assumption, the locally labeled “Sardinian” is not a single species, but actually encompasses multiple varieties from the Lutjanidae fish family. Easily recognizable to consumers by its signature pink or vivid red scales, the snapper is prized across Haiti for its firm, pale, and exceptionally flavorful flesh, cementing its position as the top-selling fish in every national market.

    For small-scale Haitian fishermen, catching snapper is far more than just another catch—it is a primary revenue stream that supports thousands of coastal households. The fish’s consistently high demand comes from both bustling urban restaurants and local families, who incorporate it into everything from holiday feasts to the iconic traditional dish “coarse salt fish”. Driven by its strong market value, fishermen have adopted specialized harvesting methods, including deep-water traps and longlines, to target the popular species.

    However, the article also highlights a growing sustainability challenge: intense commercial demand has placed heavy pressure on snapper populations, which inhabit Haiti’s coastal reef ecosystems. To prevent irreversible overexploitation that would threaten both the species and the livelihoods that depend on it, experts and fisheries managers are calling for strengthened monitoring and regulation of reef fishing areas.

    Beyond its economic importance, “Sardinian” snapper holds deep cultural meaning for Haiti, standing as a benchmark of the country’s domestic fishing production and a cornerstone of both national gastronomy and the coastal maritime economy.

    This fact was originally released as part of the answer key for the HaitiLibre Quiz platform, an educational general knowledge project launched by Haitian news outlet HaitiLibre. The free, no-registration platform offers multiple-choice quiz games across hundreds of topics, from Haitian culture and history to global current events, catering to all skill levels with three difficulty tiers: easy, intermediate, and hard. All content is available in both French and English for broad accessibility.

    As of the most recent monthly update on June 1, 2026, 31 new quiz games were added to the platform, bringing the total number of active games to 150. New quizzes are added every month to keep content fresh, and the platform includes a dedicated expert menu for users seeking more challenging knowledge tests. HaitiLibre invites readers to explore the platform, share it with friends and family, and submit feedback to help expand the project.

  • PM Briceño on Rising Violence: Parents Need To Step Up

    PM Briceño on Rising Violence: Parents Need To Step Up

    Belize is grappling with renewed public anxiety over citizen safety after a wave of violent events, including multiple shootings that were reported across the country overnight. The spike in incidents has reignited long-running debates over the underlying drivers of crime and the effectiveness of state-led security interventions, even as authorities credit emergency measures with reining in large-scale gang-related violence.

  • Surveillance Footage Key in Pomona Shooting Investigation

    Surveillance Footage Key in Pomona Shooting Investigation

    Gun violence, a persistent crisis that has often been framed as an urban-only issue, is reigniting public discussion about its spread to smaller, rural communities following a daylight attack in Pomona Village that left two people wounded on June 2, 2026.

    According to local law enforcement updates, the brazen attack unfolded just after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, when two groups of suspects on motorcycles pulled up to a local business where a small group of people had gathered. One passenger on a motorcycle pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots toward the crowd before the suspects fled the scene at high speed.

    The gunfire struck two people: 25-year-old Orlando Acosta and a 16-year-old male minor, who have not been identified further by authorities. Police confirmed that neither of the two injured victims has any prior criminal record or documented interactions with law enforcement.

    As the investigation moves into its early active phase, law enforcement teams are prioritizing the review of collected surveillance camera footage from nearby businesses and residential properties. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, who is leading the investigative team, confirmed that multiple video recordings have already been seized from the area, and investigators are working around the clock to analyze the footage to identify suspects and map out the sequence of events.

    A key unanswered question in the case remains the motive for the attack. Smith told reporters that while no clear motive has been established at this stage, investigators are working from a key working theory: the victims who were hit were not the intended targets. Instead, law enforcement suspects the gunmen planned to target another person who was part of the group gathered outside the business at the time of the shooting.

    This shooting has drawn new attention to the growing challenge of gun-related violence in rural communities that are often less equipped to respond to and prevent such incidents than larger urban centers, with local residents calling for increased police patrols and expanded community safety measures in the area.

  • Gunman Opens Fire in Dangriga: 19-Year-Old Critically Injured

    Gunman Opens Fire in Dangriga: 19-Year-Old Critically Injured

    A violent late-night shooting incident in southern Belize’s Dangriga District has left a teenage victim in critical but stable condition, launching an urgent manhunt for the fleeing attackers. On the evening of June 3, 2026, at approximately 9 p.m., the violence unfolded in the Rivas Estate neighborhood of Dangriga Town, where 19-year-old local resident Jason Marin was entering a private property when the attack began.

    According to official statements from Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, who is leading the investigation, an unidentified gunman traveling in a passing vehicle stopped before opening fire on Marin, striking the teenager multiple times. Immediately after the shooting, the attacker and any accomplices sped away from the scene, leaving the wounded victim behind.

    Marin was quickly rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment, where he remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition as of the latest update from law enforcement.

    Investigators have confirmed the attack appears to be targeted, though no clear motive has been confirmed at this early stage of the probe. In an interview responding to questions about potential leads, Smith revealed a key detail: the property Marin was entering has a history of police activity, having been previously linked to anti-drug and weapons enforcement operations.

    As of the latest public update, no suspects have been taken into custody, and the investigation remains active. Law enforcement teams are continuing to process evidence, interview witnesses, and track down the individuals responsible for the shooting to bring them into custody.

  • Sandhill Man, Dean Vaccaro, Charged in Deadly Teen Shooting

    Sandhill Man, Dean Vaccaro, Charged in Deadly Teen Shooting

    A 34-year-old Sandhill Village resident has been formally charged in a fatal weekend shooting that left one 15-year-old dead and an 18-year-old critically wounded, law enforcement officials confirmed this week. The violent incident unfolded shortly after 8 p.m. on Sunday in Gardenia Village, where a lone gunman opened fire during a local family gathering, according to lead investigators.

    The fatally wounded victim, Rackeem Armstrong, was at a nearby shop when he was struck by gunfire, while his 18-year-old cousin Justin Young sustained life-threatening injuries in the attack. Investigators have preliminary tied the shooting to an ongoing dispute over a missing motorcycle, though the full investigation remains active as authorities work to confirm all details of the incident.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the department, released an official statement confirming the arrest and charges. “As a result of the ongoing investigation into the shooting incident which resulted in the murder of fifteen-year-old Rackeem Armstrong and the shooting injury of 18-year-old Justin Young, police have formally arrested and charged thirty-four-year-old Dean Vaccaro of Sand Hill Village for the crimes of murder, attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and dangerous harm,” Smith said.

    In a raw, emotional interview following the killing, the father of the deceased victim shared his grief and called for an end to escalating community violence. “Whoever did this, they know who they are. But everything is being left in God’s hand, and I believe and I know that my God will deal with this,” he said. “To me, mistaken identity, wrong place at the wrong time, those are both scenarios that keep taking place over and over… it doesn’t make no sense killing ourselves, killing each other for stupidness, stupidity. They make their emotions rise, they get angry. And instead of thinking of the consequences, they just go and do something. Probably they’re high too on alcohol or drugs or whatever they were on. And these scenarios keep happening over and over.”

    The grieving father added that his family is asking the public for prayer as they navigate this loss, asking for spiritual strength and comfort for the entire family amid the tragedy. Meanwhile, the family of injured victim Justin Young has issued a public appeal for blood donations to support his ongoing medical treatment.

    This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television news broadcast, with all statements from Creole-speaking sources transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.

  • Belize City Man Shoots Himself with Unlicensed Firearm

    Belize City Man Shoots Himself with Unlicensed Firearm

    On June 2, 2026, a unusual shooting incident left a 23-year-old Belize City man wounded in his own home, triggering an ongoing police probe centered on an unregistered weapon, law enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday.

    Twenty-three-year-old Christopher Zetina told investigators that the injury he sustained was the result of an accidental discharge of a firearm he was holding at his residence on St. Joseph Street, which occurred at approximately 4:15 p.m. local time Tuesday. Police were first alerted to the incident after learning Zetina had sought treatment at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where detectives first interviewed him about the event.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, staff officer for the department, outlined the details of the ongoing investigation in a press briefing. “Police are investigating a shooting incident which resulted in the injury of twenty-three-year-old Christopher Zetina, which occurred at around four fifteen p.m. on the second June, 2026 on St. Joseph Street, Belize City,” Smith said. “The investigators reported that they visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, having learned that an injured person was at that location, and from speaking to Mr. Zetina, they learned that he was at his residence and he had a firearm in his possession, and it accidentally discharged, injuring him.”

    A core point of the investigation is verifying Zetina’s account of events, as well as tracking down the weapon involved. Crucially, department records confirm Zetina holds no valid license to carry a firearm in Belize, opening the door to potential criminal charges even beyond the shooting itself.

    When asked by reporter Britney Gordon whether charges would be filed for unlawful possession of the unlicensed gun, Smith explained that the prosecution process for illegal weapons charges relies on a key piece of evidence that remains missing as of Wednesday. “I know when it comes to prosecution in relation to possession of an unlicensed firearm, a very important component is for the firearm in question to be tendered into evidence. That is not the position as yet, but we acknowledge that there was an admission on his part that he was at some point in time in possession of a firearm, so we are exploring to see how best to address that situation,” Smith said.

    As of the publication of this report, law enforcement officials have not yet recovered the weapon, and the investigation remains active and ongoing.

  • Six Charged as Police Intensify Anti-Gun Operations

    Six Charged as Police Intensify Anti-Gun Operations

    Authorities in Belize have announced a major breakthrough in their nationwide campaign against illegal gun proliferation, with six people now facing criminal charges following two separate coordinated law enforcement operations carried out across the southern and western regions of the country.

    The first operation unfolded in the early hours of the operation date in Punta Gorda, a coastal town in southern Belize’s Toledo District. According to official statements from Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, a serving Staff Officer with the Belize Police Department, an on-duty officer conducting routine anti-crime patrol spotted two men riding a motorcycle through the municipality at approximately 1:25 a.m. When the officer attempted to approach the pair to question their activity, the driver immediately accelerated away, triggering a high-stakes late-night pursuit through residential streets. During the chase, 23-year-old Rushan Vairez, a resident of Punta Gorda Town, fell from the motorcycle and tried to escape on foot before officers could detain him. A subsequent search of Vairez’s backpack uncovered a loaded 9-millimeter pistol, with a magazine holding 18 live rounds of matching ammunition. Vairez has since been formally charged with two offenses: illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal possession of unlicensed ammunition.

    The second operation targeted a private residence in Unitedville, a community located in western Belize’s Cayo District, carried out by the department’s Special Patrol Unit on June 2. During the planned raid, officers recovered a .22-caliber pistol loaded with five live rounds of ammunition. Five local residents — Calvin Garcia, Sydney Forbes, Kareem Garcia, Bernadine Myers and Kevin Trapp — were taken into custody at the scene, and all five now face the same pair of illegal weapons charges as Vairez.

    The coordinated arrests come as Belize law enforcement scales up aggressive anti-gun operations across every district of the country, part of a broader push to root out illegal weapons from communities and reverse a recent upward trend in gun-related violent crime. This report is adapted from a transcribed evening television newscast covering national public safety developments.