Crime & Violence

On Saturday, November 4th, there was news from La Isla Cariñosa of Caye Caulker about the discovery of a woman found dead in her home. The deceased was identified as 32-year-old Leslie Verde. The body was bruised, and police have since launched an investigation into the cause of Verde's death. While investigations continue, no one has been detained.

The mass shooting in San Pedrito, which left three dead, Delmar Rodriguez, 25, his baby daughter Amari Rodriguez, and friend Carlos Chi, continues to shock the community. The violent attack in the early hours of October 23rd also injured four other persons. Even though police have arrested and charged two suspects, Christian Espat and Michal Brown, the families of the fatal victims say police ignored their reports of threats. A week following the deadly shooting, they issued a statement talking about the heinous crime that has torn them apart.

On Tuesday, October 24th, Michael Brown, named as one of the two suspects in the deadly mass shooting in the San Pedrito area, turned himself over to the San Pedro Police.

Police have named islanders Christian Espat and Michael Brown as persons of interest in the mass shooting in the San Pedrito subdivision, leaving islanders...

Major crimes in San Pedro, Ambergris, such as murders, have decreased over the last few years, but in the very early hours of Monday, October 23rd, all that changed when two adults and a 3-year-old baby girl were shot and killed in the San Pedrito subdivision. Police identified the deceased as Delmar Rodriguez, 25, and a second adult, Carlos Chi. The baby girl was Rodriguez’s daughter, Amari Rodriguez. Four bystanders were also caught in the hail of gunshots and airlifted to Belize City for further medical attention. Three of them remain in critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. As police investigations continue, they have one person of interest they are currently looking for. Police speculate that the motive is related to drug gang activity on the island.

The Belize Defence Force (BDF) sent personnel to the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport in Belize City after they were alerted about an item resembling an explosive object sent as cargo on a local flight from San Pedro Town.

On Monday, July 24th, Delson and Tionne Paguada were found guilty of the 2018 murder of Jimell Paul Jex at the Supreme Court in Belize City. The third person accused of the murder, Timothy Carcamo, was acquitted due to identification issues.

Jose Ricardo Mendoza, who in April 2018 was accused of fatally stabbing his father-in-law Gaspar Vargas, was sent back to the Kolbe Foundation-Belize Central Prison after he pled guilty. He had reportedly been out on a $40,000 bail for the charge of manslaughter. But after he pled guilty on Wednesday, July 19, at his hearing in Belize City’s Supreme Court, he was remanded and will remain at the central prison until his sentencing.