Belize City Man Sentenced for Attempted Murder in 2023 Shooting

A Belize City man is tonight beginning a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of attempted murder in a brutal 2023 shooting that left a woman fighting for her life. The High Court handed down its ruling earlier today, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime and the need for deterrence.  Twenty-five-year-old Michael Gladden, also known as “Wanie,” has been sentenced to fifteen years and ten months in prison for the attempted murder of Belize City resident Karen Pinto.  The sentence was handed down today by Justice Candace Nanton in the High Court, following Gladden’s conviction in connection with a December 2023 shooting that left Pinto severely injured.  While Gladden was not identified as the gunman, the court found that he acted in concert with the shooter, making him equally culpable in what was described as a joint enterprise to take Pinto’s life.  In delivering her decision, Justice Nanton noted that the offense fell within a high category of harm and culpability, pointing to the use of a firearm, the targeting and pursuit of the victim, and the multiple shots fired.  The court heard that Pinto sustained life-threatening injuries after being chased and shot at by two men in the London Bridge area. Medical evidence revealed that a gunshot wound penetrated her abdomen, causing damage to her bowel and significant blood loss.  In a chilling account presented via video link, Pinto recounted how she fled from her attackers, eventually jumping into a swampy area in an attempt to hide. She told the court that even there, the men pursued her and opened fire again, forcing her to “play dead” in order to survive.  Believing she had died, the attackers left the scene.  Justice Nanton set a starting point of eighteen years, later increasing it to nineteen after considering aggravating factors. However, deductions were made for time spent on remand and other considerations, resulting in the final sentence of fifteen years and ten months, backdated to March 12, 2026.  The judge also made it clear that Gladden’s role as a non-shooter did not lessen his responsibility, noting that his actions supported and encouraged the attack.  During mitigation, Gladden’s mother testified about the challenges he faced growing up, including the loss of his father to gun violence at a young age. Gladden himself maintained his innocence in a brief statement to the court, while expressing sympathy for the victim.  The alleged shooter, though identified, has not been arrested or charged.  Gladden is already serving a separate four-year sentence for a robbery conviction handed down last month.