Belmopan shooting leaves  19 year old young woman injured

Police are continuing their investigation into a late-night shooting in Belmopan that left a 19-year-old woman injured. The incident happened around 11:45 last night at an apartment on Chi’lam Ha Street in the Maya Mopan area. Reports are that someone knocked on the back door of the apartment, claiming to be a police officer. As Marcella Arzu approached the door, gunshots were fired through it, hitting her. Additional shots were then fired through a bedroom window before the gunmen fled the area. Arzu suffered gunshot injuries to both thighs, her genital area, right shoulder and left elbow. She was taken to the Western Regional Hospital, where she remains in stable condition. Police recovered several pieces of evidence at the scene, including 20 spent 9mm shells, 14 spent .223 shells and seven slugs. Three men were reportedly inside the apartment at the time of the shooting, including 38-year-old Ronlee Petillo. There has been speculation that the gunmen may have been looking for Petillo, who is alleged to be a former leader of the Through the Park Gang, reportedly associated with the George Street Gang in Belize City. However, police have not confirmed that he was the intended target. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith says investigators are still working to determine what led to the shooting.

ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “Police are investigating a shooting incident which resulted in the injury of 19-year-old Marcella Arzu of Belmopan City. The investigation commenced just before one o’clock a.m., when police in Belmopan City were advised of a shooting incident in the Maya Mopan area. What has been gathered so far is that Arzu and others were at home inside their residence when a male person knocked on the door, claiming to be police and requesting for it to be opened. When the door was not opened, the house was fired upon, and this resulted in the injury of Miss Arzu. Miss Arzu was transported for medical attention, where she is now listed in a stable condition and video footage from the Public Safety Monitoring Unit has resulted in the identification of two vehicles of interest and that information is being pursued as a part of the ongoing investigation. We do not believe that Miss Arzu was the intended target, but another person who resides at that residence.”

Police have not identified any suspects at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Love News will continue to follow this story and bring you any updates.