Police were quick to bring charges in Thursday night's triple murder in San Pedro that claimed the lives of two men and a woman.
The target was Karim Espat - a prominent gang figure on the island.
Police charged a rival gang member on Saturday:
ASP Stacy Smith, Police Staff Officer
"As a consequence of the ongoing investigation into the shooting incident which resulted in the deaths of Karim Espat, Oscar Modesto Mas and Yerlin Bueso on Saturday March 21st 2026, police formally arrested and charged 22 year old Shelby Jonathan Hernandez a Belizean fisherman of San Pedro town for 3 counts of murder. Hernandez is known to police having been recently convicted of being a member of a gang namely the San Pedro Crips Gang."
"I believe on the last occasion Mr Romero had addressed the media in relation to that we have known that when incidents are of such in that area there is a propensity for there to be reprisal and certainly we have adjusted our operational strategy in that regard. IKt is also important to note that Mr Espat at the time of his demise was on a high court bail which precluded him from residing in San Pedro. I guess the argument would be that he was not residing he was just living there. But I say all this to say that when conditions are placed on bail they are placed on bail for very important reasons and we encourage those persons who are, you know, in conflict with the law to follow the conditions of their bail because it is certainly something that benefits their own safety."
22-year-old Shelby Hernandez was arraigned for 3 counts of murder and remanded today.
