2 teenagers have been charged for a shooting robbery, which left a security guard shot and two guns stolen.
ASP Stacy Smith explained how officers managed to track down the assailants not too far from where the incident occurred.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"Police have formally arrested and charged, Kriston Kareef Fernandez and 18 year old Belizean for the offense of kept firearm without a gun license and kept ammunition without a gun license. Also charged in that incident was a 16 year old minor who was charged separately for the offense of kept firearm without a gun license and kept ammunition without a gun license. The charges so far relate to police's investigation into the report of a shooting incident that occurred sometime around 10:30PM on Thursday 12th February 2026. The arresting officer reported that they were on youth for the future drive when their attention was drawn to the sounds of shots being fired and they were also alerted via the control room that a male person was shot at JL's quick loan located on Cleghorn street in Belize City. The officers proceeded to the area and they observed 2 male persons and these male persons were pursued."
"When the 2 male persons who were observed coming from the direction of North front street over the Belchina bridge were observed and pursued, 1 was tracked down in the vicinity of west Collet canal and he was observed throwing a firearm and the other minor was also tracked down and he too was observed to be in possession of a firearm. What we know so far in the course of this investigation is that a security guard that was doing security services at JLs quick loan was at that place of employment when 2 male persons are reported to have went to that establishment and fired several shots resulted in the male person namely the security guard being injured. Those male persons then fled with 2 firearms being the property of the security company. We have since confirmed that the firearms that were recovered were in fact the firearm that belonged to the company and as this investigation continues it is anticipated that additional charges will be brought in relation to that particular incident."
Today in court the two teenagers, a 16 year old minor 18-year-old, Kriston Fernandez were arraigned for attempted murder and kept an unlicensed firearm. Fernandez took ownership of the gun, a 9 mm Luger pistol which police found on him by Youth for the Future Drive. Fernandez told court at mitigation today, "The only reason why I got the firearm is because they threatened me. My mother is dead from gun violence", added Fernandez.
While Fernandez's guilty plea was accepted, the Chief Magistrate has deferred sentencing for February 25th.
Both were remanded for attempted murder until April 16th.
