And while the motive for that brazen crime is still puzzling investigators, police have a different kind of problem: it's gang warfare. Last week a gang figure from the Martin's area was targeted in a high speed highway shooting. And then on Thursday night Jamal Samuels was killed in the CET site area in an act of retaliation.
The issue is that the PIV and the BLC gangs are now in open warfare, and they are both from the Martin's area.
With that close proximity and heightened hostilities, police acted to pre-empt off all-out warfare and on Saturday enacted a partial SOE for areas in the Belize District.
It's a last resort for law enforcement and this afternoon in a press conference, the Commissioner of police said the decision was made after what he calls "a careful security assessment:
Dr Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police
"Well on Friday May the 8th 2026 after a careful security assessment and intelligence on the ground a request was made for the state of emergency which was subsequently declared for certain parts of Belize City and certain parts of rural Belize district. As a result of the state of emergency a total of 9 individuals were transported a few minutes ago to the Kolbe foundation. I want to highlight that the decision was not made lightly for the state of emergency but we believe that it was absolutely necessary ab sed on the intelligence we have gathered and the on the ground assessment that has indicated an imminent danger to life and property, hence the recommendation was made and subsequently declared."
"All 9 individuals are from Belize City it is a limited, we refer to it as a limited state of emergency to address and extraordinary circumstances."
Reporter
"Can you say whether these persons detained if any of them are minors."
Dr Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police
"No none of them are minors they are all adults."
