Man Shot by Police in Stann Creek

30-year-old Francisco Mendez was reportedly shot by a police officer during an altercation in San Juan Village, Stann Creek, on Friday.

Mendez, a father of three and a banana farm worker, was socialising outside a Chinese store when he was reportedly harassed twice by a police officer, according to his brother.

Mendez’s brother, Steven, told News 5 that “Eyewitness is saying he was harassed two times by a police officer, and the third time he was beaten with a baton.” He said that this led to Mendez defending himself with a machete, “that is what triggered my brother Francisco to use a machete against the police officer.”

Mendez was injured and transported to the Dangriga Clinic and later transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City.

Mendez’s sister, Gabriela Mendez, told News 5, “My brother got shot in his right leg; he was transported at Dangriga yesterday evening, then they shifted him to Belize City around 1 this morning.”

No official police report has been filed yet, but the family is considering it. News 5 reached out to Police Commissioner Chester Williams for comment.