Charges Expected in Lemonal Village Land Dispute Shooting

Police continue to investigate yesterday’s shooting incident in Lemonal Village, Belize District, which left a Belize City woman with a gunshot injury, while charges are expected to be levied against the detained suspect.  As previously reported, police say that shortly before two o’clock yesterday afternoon, thirty-three-year-old Stacey Middleton, a call center agent of Belize City, was shot during a dispute involving fifty-four-year-old Rupert Gentle, a bulldozer operator from the Cayo District, who was reportedly clearing a parcel of land in the area.  Investigators say Middleton, along with two other individuals, approached Gentle and demanded that he stop clearing the property. During the confrontation, Gentle allegedly pulled out his licensed firearm and fired a single shot, injuring Middleton.  This afternoon, Love News spoke with Eileen Major, who claims ownership of the disputed property. Major says she has documents proving ownership of the land and explained that tensions surrounding the parcel have been ongoing for several months.  According to Major, earlier yesterday she personally escorted a police officer to the area in an effort to de-escalate the situation before violence erupted. However, she says police later left the scene without any definitive resolution between the parties involved.

Major alleges that hours later the confrontation escalated into the shooting incident now under investigation.  Meanwhile, reports reaching our newsroom indicate that investigators are also looking into allegations that moments before the shooting, a liquid substance was allegedly thrown into Gentle’s face, causing irritation and redness. Police have not officially confirmed that allegation.  Love News understands that police are preparing to levy charges against Rupert Gentle, who remains in police custody at the Ladyville Police Station.