Relations between Belize and Guatemala are already touch and go and tensions are heightened tonight after street violence was visited upon a senior Guatemalan diplomat in Belize.
A 17 year old is facing 3 counts of attempted murder for shooting at a Guatemalan diplomat yesterday evening. Around 6 pm, the second in charge at the Guatemalan Embassy in Belize, 31-year-old Fernando Molina Nanina was in the Embassy's Toyota Prado, which carries diplomatic plates, on Pelican Street extension in the Collet Area.
The man at the wheel was Embassy driver, 31 year old Melvin Martinez and they were with a third man 24 year old Rene Caceres. Caceres told police that the vehicle came under fire from two young men; one of the young men pulled out a handgun and fired several shots, shattering the rear windshield of the Toyota Prado. Caceres received cut wounds to the face and neck. Police say that neither the Consul nor his driver was injured.
It's an event that could trigger serious repercussions, and the police top brass gave it high priority. By early this morning, police had picked up 17-year-old Mark Jones from his Pelican Street Extension home which is near to where the shooting occurred. He was booked on three counts of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and a count of wounding and damage to property. His arraignment was planned for this afternoon but the case hit a snag. Jones is months shy of his 18th birthday which means he has to be arraigned at the Family Court.
Jones will however spend tonight at the Queen Street Police Station Holding Cell since the DPP asked for time to review the case file. Jones was shot last year in the back by police and later charged for possession of unlicensed firearm. The charges against him were later dropped. Jones told 7NEWS today he knows nothing of the shooting.
As for the diplomat he allegedly shot, Fernando Molina Nanini, well he is the second in charge at the Guatemalan Embassy and deals mostly with the issuance of visas.