Man Murdered After Orange Walk Carnival on Independence Day

Tonight, the family of twenty-three-year-old Alwyn Arnold is grieving after he was murdered in Orange Walk after the Independence Day celebrations. The Belize City laborer attended the carnival and was enjoying the evening with family and friends when an altercation between him and another individual resulted in Arnold’s fatal stabbing. Arnold was transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

On Saturday, Belizeans at home and many others in the diaspora celebrated the forty-third anniversary of the country’s independence. For one family, the festivities were cut short when they got the news that a loved one had been viciously stabbed. Like many other Belize City residents, Alwyn Arnold traveled to Orange Walk to participate in the carnival festivities.  Later that evening, he would be fatally injured.

 

Stephen Bain, Brother of Deceased

“My brothers attended the carnival in the Orange Walk district. We normally go every year. I normally go myself too, but this year I was not really feeling it too. Because I had other business to deal with in the city, so I did not accompany them this year. But unfortunately, after the carnival, in the night I received a telephone call from my younger brother telling me that my younger brother, Alwyin, has been in an altercation and received a stab wound.”

 

Arnold had been celebrating along with family and friends, who rushed to his aid. He was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital but succumbed to his injury shortly after.

 

Stephen Bain

“I told him just stay close to the doctor and try to get the information that we need. And I, coming up, going to fuel my vehicle and come up to assist. But about half an hour later, about a little after nine, he called me back and he told me that the doctor  had informed him that my brother had passed. He succumbed to his injury, you know? But that’s all I know. I was not there, I just made a move accordingly.”

 

This year, several fights broke out among the crowds, resulting in multiple stabbing incidents. According to police, several people were involved in the incident, and they have yet to identify the perpetrator.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Saturday, the twenty-first day of September 2024 around nine twenty p.m. Orange Walk police visited the Northern Regional Hospital where they found  Alwin Arnold with stable injuries. Thereafter, he succumbed to his injuries. Information receiver  Alwin Arnold was at Orange Walk when he got into a fight with several persons. One of which inflicted a stabbing injury to him.  We have no suspects for the stabbing at this time.”

 

Police are still investigating the cause of the conflict, but they suspect that alcohol was a contributing factor to its escalation.

 

ACP Hilberto Romero

“We do not know. We know that a lot of persons were consuming alcoholic beverages. It was a carnival. And a fight started and this is where this person was stabbed.”

 

Bain acknowledges that alcohol may lead to violence at these types of events but maintains that his brother was an unnecessary casualty of the day.

 

Stephen Bain

“Yes these things do happen from time to time. But my brother was not no trouble person. He was not in no gang affiliation or nothing like that. I really can’t say what happened, but I don’t know what triggered it. The police here, investigating. And so we just leave it to them to do their investigation.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Were any of your other siblings injured during the altercation?”

 

Stephen Bain

“Not that I am aware of.”

 

Arnold hails from a large family; twelve siblings in total, including a twin sister, Brenda Arnold. Several family members were in Orange Walk with Arnold on the day of his death.

 

Stephen Bain

“Basically, there were like about twelve of us. But this year my son accompany them and my little nephew. All of them were together. I really don’t know what transpired. Like I said, I was not there. I only received a call and that is when I responded. And I went over there and we went, tried to look for where the incident happened and so forth. We’re working very closely with the police and they said leave it to them. They will do the investigation. So that is what we’re doing.”

 

Stephen Bain says his brother will be remembered for his lively spirit and work ethic.

 

Stephen Bain

“He was a very energetic very jovial person. Very up front. He was very hard working. Very loving and caring to family and friends. He was not no type of gang figure as I mentioned, no.”

 

Britney Gordon

“He was quite young I know. What did he do for work and in his free time?

 

Stephen Bain

“He used to work up at the foam factory on the highway. Yeah, he was working over there.”

 

Arnold’s family is leaving the fate of the incident to the investigators and remain hopeful that justice will be served.

 

Stephen Bain

“We are just here trying to support each other in this time and see how we can get through the funeral and everything safely and quietly.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.