Tonight, the family of a 20-year-old Corozal resident Rafael Sansores, is making preparations for his burial after he was fatally injured by a pellet gun. At this time, it is believed that Sansores and 3 of his friends were playing with the toy gun when one of the young men shot him by accident.
Yesterday at around 5:00, the victim was at the home of his 3 friends, and they were playing around with a pellet gun. They were reportedly shooting at birds in the yard when Sansores loaded the air rifle with a pellet round. He reportedly put it down, and that’s when one of his 3 friends picked it up. His friend did not realize that the gun was loaded, and so, he playfully pointed it at Sansores.
His friend reportedly pulled the trigger to follow through with the prank, and that’s when shot Sansores in the upper left side of his chest.
Sansores was rushed to the Corozal Community Hospital, and later to the Northern Regional Hospital. Doctors tried to save his life, but unfortunately, he passed away during surgery last night.
Because of a small prank, one young man is dead, and the other is now facing the prospect of criminal charges being brought against him. This evening, we got a chance to speak with Police Commissioner Chester Williams about the incident, and here’s what he told us:
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
“From what I have been briefed, they 3 friends were playing with an air riffle and apparently one of them picked up the riffle unknowing that it was loaded and he pointed it at his friend and was trying to frighten him and when he pulled the trigger, it was loaded and the pellet penetrated the left upper shoulder of one of the individual. He was rushed to the Northern Regional hospital and he died while undergoing treatment. This is a very unfortunate situation, yes we have the person who is responsible in custody, we don’t see it as a case of murder, is more likely manslaughter by negligence but we’re not going to be the judge of that, we’re going to put together the file and then we’ll send it to the DPP office and we’ll be guided by the instructions they give where charges in concerned.
