标签： Belize

The tranquil facade of Belize’s capital city has been shattered by a surge of violent crime, culminating in a devastating double homicide that has left the community reeling. On the evening of February 13th, the eve of Valentine’s Day, twenty-one-year-old Zamar Alvarez and his twenty-year-old cousin Calvert Webster were fatally shot while walking along a residential sidewalk in Belmopan.

This tragedy represents the violent apex of a mounting crime wave that has residents on high alert. The city had already been grappling with the brazen daylight murder of a delivery driver just one month prior, compounded by recent armed robberies targeting delivery personnel. The shooting has transformed existing anxiety into profound community grief.

Alina Alvarez, mother of Zamar, arrived at the crime scene in a state of utter devastation after receiving notification from a relative within the police department. Clutching her son’s photograph, she delivered an emotional plea for truth and justice, vehemently denying allegations of her son’s involvement in criminal activities. “I miss my child. You guys took away my everything, my joy, my hope, my peace,” she expressed through tears.

In the sanctuary of her son’s bedroom, where his clothing remained meticulously arranged, Alvarez remembered Zamar as an aspiring musician whose lyrics reflected street life realities without glorifying violence. She recounted his recent pilgrimage to Esquipulas, Guatemala, where he acquired a cross for their Catholic household, symbolizing his hopeful outlook.

Official commentary from Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs, suggests the killings represent spillover violence from conflicts in La Democracia and Belize City. Minister Mira indicated that suspects may have sought refuge in Belmopan, while acknowledging investigative challenges due to familial non-cooperation and social media speculation.

Despite these challenges, Alvarez maintains active communication with investigators, expressing confidence in the judicial process while leaning on her faith for solace. As police continue their search for motives and perpetrators, two families confront an unimaginable void, and a community wrestles with the erosion of its perceived safety.

BELMOPAN – Grieving families in La Democracia are mounting a vigorous defense of two cousins fatally shot last Friday, vehemently rejecting police suggestions of their involvement in criminal activities. The emotional rebuttal comes as investigators continue pursuing multiple leads in the double homicide case.

Calvert Websters’ sister provided a compelling counter-narrative to police implications, revealing her brother had recently passed his Coast Guard examination and applied for the welding program at the University of Belize. On the day of the shooting, she confirmed Websters was in Belmopan collecting his Belize Defence Force application documents – actions she maintains demonstrate his commitment to building a legitimate future.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, provided updated investigative details indicating both victims were accompanied by four other males when the shooting occurred. Smith acknowledged Websters had been identified as “a person of interest” in a recent Belmopan delivery truck robbery case, though no definitive connections have been established.

In an emotional testimony, Websters’ sister described her brother as a generous community figure who regularly provided meals, clothing, and assistance to friends in need. “He was not gang affiliated. He was a baller,” she asserted, suggesting the perpetrator was likely someone her brother knew and trusted implicitly.

Police authorities confirm the investigation remains active with several promising leads being pursued. ASP Smith emphasized that ongoing developments would be shared with media outlets as information becomes verified, while maintaining that investigative clarity regarding motive remains a primary objective.

BELIZE CITY – Law enforcement authorities have achieved a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the January 25th fatal shooting of Elroy Bainton in Ladyville, with two additional suspects now in custody. Izaiah Nigel Beeks and Camryn Lozano were formally arrested and charged with murder on February 14th, marking a substantial development in what investigators describe as a rapidly evolving case.

The recent arrests bring the total number of accused individuals to three, following last week’s detention of Caryl Paul Rodas. Authorities have revealed that the investigation has uncovered connections between Bainton’s killing and another fatal shooting that occurred on the same night. According to police officials, both incidents appear to stem from internal conflicts within local drug trafficking operations.

Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, provided details on how emerging evidence directly led investigators to Beeks and Lozano. The suspects appeared before Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers, where they were formally charged with murder. Due to the severity of the charge, neither defendant was permitted to enter a plea in the lower court. Both men have been remanded to prison pending their next court appearance.

Police characterize the violence as interconnected episodes rather than isolated attacks, suggesting they represent dangerous repercussions of disputes within the narcotics trade. The investigation continues as authorities work to unravel the full scope of the criminal network involved in these incidents.

A swift police response proved critical following a violent shooting incident that disrupted the tranquility of Caye Caulker’s Bahia area on Thursday evening. Authorities were alerted to gunfire around 9:00 PM and immediately mobilized toward the scene, where they encountered a golf cart transporting an injured man to the local clinic.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Dominic Castillo, had sustained a gunshot wound to the back and required emergency medical attention before being transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for further treatment.

Through subsequent investigation, law enforcement officials identified 29-year-old Javaun Moody as a person of interest. Moody was formally arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. According to Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, officers observed Moody discarding a weapon during pursuit. The recovered firearm was identified as a 9mm pistol containing a magazine with seven live rounds.

Further search of Moody’s person revealed additional criminal activity, leading to drug possession charges after police discovered a Ziploc bag containing suspected cocaine. Investigators also recovered a .38 caliber revolver with three live rounds from the scene, along with seven expended shell casings.

All evidence has been submitted to the National Forensic and Science Services Laboratory for ballistic testing and analysis, which will determine possible connections to the shooting incident and potential additional charges against Moody.

When questioned about the circumstances, ASP Smith indicated that both Moody and the victim appeared to have traveled to the area with “nefarious intentions” and encountered “equal hostility.” The investigation continues to determine whether the recovered .38 revolver belongs to Moody’s group or other involved parties.

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE – February 16, 2026 – Two teenagers are now in custody following a violent shooting incident that left a security guard injured outside JL’s Quick Loan establishment last week. Eighteen-year-old Kriston Fernandez and a sixteen-year-old minor, whose identity remains protected due to his age, have been formally charged with attempted murder and multiple firearm offenses.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026, when police officers patrolling Youth for the Future Drive responded to reports of gunfire in the Cleghorn Street area. According to ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, the responding units observed two male individuals fleeing from the direction of North Front Street across the BelChina Bridge.

During the pursuit, both suspects were apprehended near West Collet Canal where they were seen discarding firearms. The weapons were subsequently recovered and identified as property belonging to the security company employed by JL’s Quick Loan.

The victim, forty-nine-year-old security guard Justo Pineda, sustained gunshot wounds but is currently recovering from his injuries. Investigation reveals that the two assailants approached the financial establishment and fired multiple shots before attempting to flee with the security guard’s firearms.

Fernandez, who was previously arraigned on unlicensed firearm charges, has been remanded to Belize Central Prison. During initial questioning, he reportedly claimed he carried the weapon due to ongoing threats and the murder of his mother. The minor is being held at Wagner’s Youth Facility.

With the charges deemed too serious for bail consideration, both defendants are scheduled to reappear in court on April 16, 2026. Police authorities indicate that additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues to determine the precise motives behind the violent attack.