Giovanni Ramirez Murdered in Belize City
Giovanni Ramirez, known as the whistleblower in the high-profile case that led to the conviction and imprisonment of attorney Oscar Selgado, is dead. Ramirez was gunned down this afternoon on Partridge Street in Belize City. The assailants, believed to be two men on a motorcycle, ambushed Ramirez while he was driving towards Mahogany Street, killing him on the spot. This shocking murder leaves a trail of questions about who was behind it and what it means for Selgado’s upcoming appeal. News Five’s Marion Ali has more on this developing story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Residents near the intersection of Partridge and Mahogany Streets were left in shock just before 2 p.m. today when a barrage of gunshots rang out, followed by a loud crash. Rushing outside, they discovered a man in a red SUV had been shot and crashed into a cement fence. Police arrived quickly to find the driver’s window riddled with bullet holes and the driver dead inside. Shell casings were scattered across the street. The incident occurred alarmingly close to two schools and a construction site.
The victim was identified as thirty-year-old Giovanni Ramirez, who made headlines in June 2024 for his role in the case against attorney Oscar Selgado. Ramirez had provided crucial information to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, accusing Selgado of trying to hire him to kill Marilyn Barnes, who had filed a complaint against Selgado. Ramirez’s audio recordings of their conversations mysteriously disappeared, and he never testified in court out of fear for his life. Instead, Commissioner Williams relayed Ramirez’s account, leading to Selgado’s conviction. Selgado remains in prison, awaiting an appeal.
Ramirez also made news in May when he was arrested and charged with gang membership. He was detained while signing in at the police station, a condition of his High Court bail, pending an investigation into an attempted murder from two months earlier. Today, police recovered nearly a dozen shell casings and have begun their investigation into Ramirez’s murder.
Marion Ali for News Five.
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