Corozal Murder Probe Points to Drug Connection

Police in Corozal are investigating a fatal shooting that claimed the life of one man and left another hospitalized on Tuesday night. Dead is thirty-five-year-old Roger Escalante, a self-employed resident of Consejo Village, while twenty-five-year-old Ezer Alcoser, a Social Security worker and well-known DJ from Corozal Town, remains hospitalized in stable condition after being shot during the attack.  According to police, the incident happened shortly after seven-thirty last night at El Patio Restaurant in Corozal Town. Investigators say Escalante and Alcoser had just arrived at the establishment in a grey Toyota Hilux and were exiting the vehicle when they were approached by two dark-complexioned men who immediately opened fire on them.  Escalante attempted to escape by running behind a nearby house and into a backyard, but his body was later discovered motionless on top of a cement septic tank behind the restaurant. During today’s police press briefing, Police Staff Officer ASP Stacy Smith confirmed that investigators are treating the murder as drug-related. Smith also acknowledged that while she could not confirm Escalante as a suspect in the well-publicized Neuland plane landing investigation, he had been identified by authorities as a person of interest in that case.

ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department:“Police are investigating a shooting incident which claimed the life of 36 year old Roger Escalante of Corozal District and injured 25 year old Izer Alcoser of Corozal District. The investigation commenced on Tuesday 26 May, 2026, at around 7.40pm when officers responded to shots being fired on Flamboyant Street in Corozal Town. Upon the officers arrival they observed an injured and unresponsive Escalante whose body exhibited gunshot wounds and they also met with an injured Alcoser. What the investigation has thus far disclosed is that Escalante and another male person had arrived at the residence on Flamboyant Street and shortly thereafter they were approached by an SUV and a male person exited that SUV, an armed male person, who fired several shots resulting in the demise of Escalante and the injury of Alcoser. Mr Alcoser is listed in a stable condition.”

Reporter: The one who succumbed was one of the suspects in that or is one of the suspects in the investigation regarding the Neuland drugs? 

ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department:“What I will say is that Mr Alcoser at the time of his demise was a person of interest in relation to an ongoing investigation and I will also disclose that we believe the motive in this incident is drug related. We don’t know if they were the intended targets. I won’t go on record saying that however as I’ve stated, they were persons of interest in relation to an investigation pertaining to drugs. Sorry, one person, Mr. Escalante was a person of interest in relation to an investigation pertaining to drugs.” 

Police processed the scene and recovered several expended nine-millimeter shells./