Belize Transport Officer Avoids Jail After Viral Gun Incident

A Belizean Transport Officer narrowly avoided jail time this evening after a dramatic turn of events inside the Magistrate’s Court, following a viral gun-play incident over the weekend in Belize City.  Thirty-three-year-old Ignatius Peyrifitte, a Transport Officer of Bermudian Landing, was initially arraigned earlier today on a single charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. The charge stemmed from an incident involving 30-year-old businessman Rodney Card, who reported that Peyrefitte pulled a licensed firearm on him during a confrontation at Shisha’s Parking Lot in the early hours of Saturday morning.  According to police, Card told investigators he had attempted to de-escalate a fight between two women when Peyrifitte allegedly intervened, pulled a firearm from his waistband, and “cranked” it in his direction, causing him to fear for his life.  Despite those allegations, Card appeared at court this morning requesting no further court action against Peyrefitte. Representing Peyrefitte was Attorney Orson Elrington.

The Senior Magistrate presiding over the matter declined to accept the withdrawal at that stage, citing the seriousness of the charge. Instead, the court required that the virtual complainant provide a formal written statement indicating his position. Peyrefitte was subsequently remanded to the Belize Central Prison until Friday, April 17.  But in a swift development, Card later provided that formal statement to police, indicating that he did not wish to proceed with the matter.