And from that killing in the North, we report now on another gun murder in Southern Belize, and, again, it's Punta Gorda.
The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Ernel Caliz. At around 7:51 p.m. last Friday, officers from the PG Police Station responded to the Water Supply area. That's when they found him lying motionless on the ground in a pool of blood on Cayetano Street.
Today, the police spokesperson told the press that it appears that he was riding his bicycle when an unknown gunman ambushed him:
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Director of Communications, ComPol's Office
"Friday night, Ernel Caliz, sometime around 7:51 p.m., while officers were making checks at the PG Town Hall, routine checks - you know we check buildings and government offices, and business places. They heard a single shot, that appeared to be a gunshot, and they combed the area. This is on Cayetano Street in the water supply area of Punta Gorda Town, where they saw Ornel Caliz lying down in a pool of blood. This area is a very dark area, and what we have gathered so far is that Caliz was riding his bicycle on that street, when someone exited the bus shed and fired a single shot at him, causing his fatal injury. We are looking for someone known to the police in connection with this murder. And hopefully, if he is detained, we can shed some more light as to why this crime took place."
Punta Gorda has been seeing a number of gang related murders recently - and while this one may not be directly linked to a gang, towns-people suspect it could be some misguided kind of retaliation for another recent murder.
