Gun Violence Claims Another Life in Belize City Amid State of Emergency

Just days after a state of emergency was declared in the Lake Independence area, Belize City has recorded yet another fatal shooting. The latest victim is twenty-six-year-old Zinedine Pinelo, a fisherman from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Around 12:35 p.m. on Hunter’s Lane, police responded to reports of gunfire and discovered Pinelo’s lifeless body with two gunshot wounds to the head. Early reports suggested a possible robbery, as some of Pinelo’s belongings, including his slippers, were missing. However, other accounts indicate that Pinelo and another man had gone to meet a friend when they were ambushed by a group of men, one of whom opened fire. In the aftermath, police swarmed the area, conducting searches in nearby homes as part of their ongoing crackdown under emergency measures. The killing has raised fresh concerns about the effectiveness of the state of emergency in curbing violence, as residents continue to grapple with fear and uncertainty.