And just like Budna, police also believe that the second murder for 2023 was gang related. 27-year-old Hilberto Martinez had just moved to Hilda Street after the hurricane, and just after midnight this morning, he heard someone knocking on his door. When he answered it, he saw two men, one of them wielding a firearm. The gunman then opened fire, and Martinez was shot fourteen times.
Today the Commissioner of Police told us what the police know so far.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"In terms of the murder in Belize City, this morning around 3am, police responded to information of shots fired on Hilda Street in the Antelope Street Extension area where they saw the lifeless body of one Hilberto Martinez. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. At this time, police are still searching for a motive as well as those person who may be responsible for that latest murder. As soon as additional information in respect to that murder is received, we will be happy to share with you the members of the media."
There are reports that Martinez's murder stemmed from a Facebook comment on a post about a previous murder victim. However, when we asked the Commissioner, he said that he had not heard that angle as yet.
Martinez had one child. Hilda Street is around the corner form Pitta street which saw multiple murders last year.
