A police officer remains hospitalized after he was shot during a robbery on Tuesday night in Belize City. The drama unfolded around eight twenty last night at the corner of King Street and Euphrates Avenue. Last night at 8:10, twenty five year old constable Shannon Garbutt who is attached to the Patrol Branch was off duty and walking on Euphrates Avenue.
As he passed by a wooden house where some men were playing cards downstairs he saw three young men roll up with their shirts pulled over their faces and one of them appeared to be holding a gun. The trio then ran into the yard in an attempt to jack the players at gunpoint. Seeing a crime unfolding right before him, Constable Garbutt who was armed with his licensed nine millimeter gun jumped into action. He identified himself as a police officer but that didn’t stop the robbers from opening fire, hitting him in the knee.
According to Hugh Donald Slusher he was watching the men play their game when they were held up. Slusher says he does not know how much money was stolen only that wallets were taken along with some cash that was on the table.
Hugh Donald Slusher,
“When the police came, they came with the spot light and they picked up four expended shells.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
I understand this is not the first time, they always try to jack these guys under this house.
Hugh Donald Slusher,
“True, true. This is the third time.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And after the guys fire shot at the police man they ran?
Hugh Donald Slusher,
“They left them bicycle and they broke away through so.”
Slusher says he too ran away from the scene. The police have detained three persons for questioning. Garbutt is recovering in the hospital and when we visited him today, he declined comment.
