Construction Worker Killed in Belize City Shooting

A shooting incident in Belize City last night has claimed the life of a young construction worker.  Police report that shortly after 8:20 p.m., information was received of a shooting on Barbara Harris Street in the Lake Independence area. Officers from CIB Precinct Two responded to the scene, where it was learned that the victim had already been transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.  At the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit, police observed 29-year-old Jamal Samuels, a Belizean construction worker of CET Site, suffering from multiple gunshot injuries to the body. Despite efforts to save his life, Samuels was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m. by Dr. Montejo.  Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith provided preliminary information on this investigation, whilst confirming that Samuels was known to police as it relates to drug trafficking.

ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “The investigation commenced on 7 May at around 8:20 p.m. when officers were alerted to the sounds of shots being fired in the vicinity of Barbra Harris Street located in the Lake Independence area of Belize City. Officers responded to the scene and upon their arrival they observed an injured Mr. Samuels who was ailing from apparent gunshot wounds. Samuels was rushed to the hospital however he later succumbed to the injuries that he sustained. What the ongoing investigation has revealed is that Samuels and others were sitting outside of a residence on that street when they were fired upon by an individual who was onboard a dark in color vehicle. Video footage from the Crime Fusion Center are being reviewed to see how they can advance the investigation. We suspect that this incident is a consequence of the internal rift that exists in the Backaland area. I will also say that Mr.Samuels is known to police having been charged just last year for drug trafficking.” 

As it relates to the possibility of retaliation, Senior Superintendent Reymundo Reyes, spoke on the steps that the Police Department has taken to prevent such activities.

ACP Reymundo Reyes, Deputy Commander of Operations: “From last night we engaged our operational teams within the area with that effort to prevent incidents from happening due to that. We knew from the beginning when we had the incident of Mr. Baptist on the Philip Goldson Highway that retaliation was possible and from then we activated our operations within that area. So that is what we are continuing to target known persons that might have cause havoc within the area of the Martins.”

Samuel’s body is now awaiting a post-mortem examination.