And in other news, the quiet community of Caye Caulker has been left reeling from the killing of a teenager. 19 year old Kevin Depaz was fatally stabbed a couple of blocks away from his home - and a police officer is the suspect.
Kevin was out with friends when they got into an altercation with two off duty officers. Somewhere in the chaos, a knife was pulled and all 5 persons were stabbed. Depaz was the only one who succumbed to his injuries, however.
For his family, it's been a day of devastating grief and endless tears. They're demanding answers and, more importantly, justice for the life of a young man who never before got in trouble with the law.
Courtney Menzies went to the island today to speak with them. Here is her story.
What was supposed to be a night of celebration turned fatal for a 19 year old Caye Caulker resident. Kevin Depaz arrived back in Belize on Wednesday and decided to spend last night at Las Vibras with his friends and his girlfriend.
But after they left the club, an altercation started around 2:30 this morning that left him dead and his friends and two police officers hospitalized.
Depaz's girlfriend explained off camera what she witnessed.
Voice of: Kagan Alamina, Girlfriend of Deceased
"We were at Vibras and then one of his friends punched a guy and then from there I told him we need to leave and when we were leaving, some of his friends got off the golf cart and he went to defend them and that's when he got stabbed and I grabbed him and I took him to the hospital, I was holding him, I have his blood on my fingernails. But I took him to the hospital and I was there with him until the doctors came and from there they didn't want to let anyone in. And the guy that stabbed him was still in the clinic."
"I was screaming for them to call his dad but everyone was injured, his two other friends got stabbed too and my phone was dead, my phone's been dead all night and I didn't know what to do. All I knew was that I had to take him to the clinic and that's what I did."
Voice of: Karina Depaz, Mother of Deceased
"They told me that my son was stabbed by the police and my son died and the police guy is laughing that my son was dead."
According to official reports, Depaz was with 18 year old Julian Canul and 25 year old Neesean Allen in front of Munchies Fast Food a fight broke out. That's when two officers attempted to intervene, however, one of them was reportedly stabbed by Allen, and that's when the chaos broke out. ASP Stacy Smith told us what the police have found out so far.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"What police have learnt is that two off duty police officers were in front of a fast food establishment when they observed a golf cart with male occupants stopping at their location and one of the male occupants is reported to have shoved an individual who was similarly at the fast food stand. It is reported that the officers intervened to this ongoing altercation and the male persons would have departed. It was reported and alleged that that golf cart with the male person along with other male persons returned to the location shortly thereafter and an altercation ensued between the off duty officers and the occupants of the golf cart."
"The directives from the DPP will dictate whether it is a murder, it is still a very young investigation. The file will be compiled and sent to the office of the DPP where determinations will be made as to what charges are to be levied under the circumstances."
Canul and Allen were airlifted to the KHMH. The two officers were supposed to be transported to the hospital as well but police reports state that a mob of villagers were "causing havoc." And indeed, tires were burnt along the road that leads to the health center - the scorch marks still there this morning, as well as bloodstains on the street.
It's a strong expression of the community's outrage and the commotion on the island has led to increase police presence - and even a visit by the commissioner of police.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"The commissioner has emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to be conducted, both by the major crimes unit of the police department and the professional standards branch. Commissioner Rosado has always reached out to the family of the victim in this incident and is heading out to Caye Caulker in relation to this incident."
Jules Vasquez
"If villagers had been involved in the killing of one of those police officers, they will argue that you all would have already labeled it murder and string up or arrested whomever you are believe is responsible. That's what the villagers would say. Okay. Your response to that?"
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"That's what the villagers would say. As I stated, it's an investigation that the police is interested in thoroughly investigating."
"Certainly, when it is incidents that involve police officers, there's a higher level of scrutiny, and there's certainly an onus on the department to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted to dispel any suggestions of cover up or anything in that nature."
But the villagers are demanding answers now because, like the chairlady said, Caye Caulker is a small, close knit community. She believes that there's a disconnect between the residents and the officers that needs to be bridged.
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker
"These things we need to look at more in detail, specifically being that Caye Caulker is a tourist destination, we have to raise our standards, we need to be more professional in how we carry out our duties, not only with tourists, but even with locals. We have to be more conscious, police officers need to be more conscious with how they're interacting with the community. We want our youths to feel safe so a lot of PR needs to go into policing. We're a small community so the police has to get involved and be a part of the community and not - integrated into the community, not segregated so we would definitely ask the police department to consider those things and be more of an integral part of what Caye Caulker is."
But for now, Depaz's family is waiting to see the outcome because they believe he was killed in cold blood. They say he was never involved in criminal activity and should not have been faced with such a cruel death.
Voice of: Karina Depaz, Mother of Deceased
"My son was a good kid. He didn't harm anybody. My son didn't even have a record. My son was an amazing kid, he was friendly with anybody. And a man took his life. My son didn't deserve to die like that."
Voice of: Kagan Alamina, Girlfriend of Deceased
"He's funny and he's always been nice, he's very selfless, he gives back to a lot of people."
"And the thing is, no one had weapons. All I know that the officer brought the weapon and stabbed everyone."
Courtney Menzies:
"And he was in the club as well?"
Voice of: Kagan Alamina, Girlfriend of Deceased
"I'm not sure, I only know the two other guys but I didn't see him in the club. I think he jumped in."
"If I'm not crying, I'm numb, and if I'm not numb I'm bawling my eyes out. It's hard and it's just sad because I'll never see him again."
According to Alamina, they were supposed to go back to school together in August.
Allen and Canul are reportedly in stable condition, as well as the officers.
