Belize: Suspect held after gunshots fired at the home of top cop

Police Commissioner Chester Williams has confirmed that one person is in custody in relation to gunshots fired at his home on Tuesday night

“If they think I am going to be intimidated, then they have the wrong man,” the top cop told reporters.

Williams was not at his residence when the incident occurred at around 9:19 pm (local time), but his 20-year-old son was home and unharmed.

Williams informed reporters that the suspect was identified after investigators reviewed security footage. The shooter reportedly rode a motorcycle, passing by the house and firing at it from a distance with a .45 calibre firearm.

Authorities have identified the suspect as a 21-year-old male from Camalote Village, Cayo District, affiliated with one of the gangs in Roaring Creek Village. The weapon and motorcycle used in the crime were recovered.

Williams, currently attending the UN Chiefs of Police conference in the United States, described the suspect as a “coward” and reiterated, “If they think I am going to be intimidated, then they have the wrong man.”

Over the weekend, a gunman targeted the Roaring Creek police station in the Cayo District of Belize, just northwest of the capital. Williams stated that law enforcement officials are actively searching for the individual.

Belize has imposed a state of emergency (SOE) for the second time within a six-month period in neighbourhoods on the north and south sides of Belize City, aimed at addressing a spike in violent crimes by rival gangs.

Williams suggested a potential link between the increase in gang-related shootings and murders to a recent concert. He noted that police have seized numerous firearms and ammunition within the Belize District and the Cayo area.