Wednesday night brought shock and sorrow to Belize City as residents learned of the tragic murder of sixty-one-year-old mechanic Carlos Avelar. Gunfire erupted on Coney Drive around 8:15 p.m., prompting police to rush to the scene where they found Avelar’s lifeless body. Avelar was quickly transported to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Assistant Commissioner Hilberto Romero provided further details on the incident, as authorities continue their investigation into this senseless crime.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“On Thursday, the first day of May, 2025, police responded to a shooting at Coney Drive in Belize City. Upon their arrival, they found a lifeless body of a male person identified as Carlos Avelar, sixty-one years with gunshot injuries. Information is that, Avelar was walking alone on Corney Drive when the motorcycle pulled up with two male persons, one of the persons came off the motorcycle fired shots towards his direction causing his fatal injuries. Investigation into this murder continues. We have no suspects at this time and we have not established a motive for this murder.”
Reporter
“Any surveillance footage gathered from the area that may have indicated where these men played or where they came from?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, have some surveillance footage and that is being reviewed, but that is all we have at this time. Two persons came on a motorcycle and one of them fired the shots”
Reporter
“Did Avelar’s families say whether he was receiving any threats? Did he have a problem with anyone?”
Hilberto Romero
“No. They have no such information that he had received any threats.”
Reporter
“And he’s not known to police?”
Hilberto Romero
“No.”
Reporter
“He was the only one in the area at the time, so it could not have been anybody else they were looking for?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yeah, he was walking alone at the time at Corney Drive.”
Reporter
“Do police fear this could have been some sort of senseless act?”
Hilberto Romero
“We are looking at every angle, but at this time, we have no suspects.”