Corozal District - Channel 5 Belize

Shots Fired at Police Officer’s Home

Shots were fired at the home of police corporal Martin Marin on Jaguar Street in Finca Solana area of Corozal. Marin, 35, was inside his home preparing for bed when he heard four loud bangs, which he immediately recognised as gunshots around 11:30 p.m. on Monday. After stepping outside, he heard a motorcycle speeding away.

A white Jeep Cherokee belonging to Inspector Kimara Lopez, parked in the yard, was struck by bullets, with one shot piercing the front windshield. A bullet hit the home’s front screen door. Crime Scene Technicians processed the area, retrieving several 9mm shell casings from the street. Surveillance footage has yet to be reviewed, no suspects have been identified, and statements are still pending as investigations continue.

Six-Year-Old Shot in Corozal Released in Stable Condition

Over the weekend, a man and a six-year-old child went through a harrowing ordeal when gunshots rained down on their home in the Corozal District. This scary incident took place on Saturday night on Pine Street. Thankfully, both have been released from the hospital and are now in stable condition. ACP Hilberto Romero will share more details on the incident.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Saturday, the ninth of November, there was a shooting at Pine Street. In Corozal, police visited a house where they saw some bullet holes. Investigation revealed that two persons had been taken for treatment at the hospital. The persons were identified as Glenn Suazo, and a six-year-old minor. They received injuries. They were treated and thereafter released from the hospital. Investigation is ongoing into this matter. No persons are detained in reference to this shooting.”

Belize City Man Charged for Drug Trafficking in Corozal

A 27-year-old Belize City taxi driver has been arrested and charged with “Possession of Controlled Drugs with Intent to Supply to Another” following a police checkpoint operation.

On Thursday, October 24, around 12:30 p.m., police stopped a grey Toyota Camry taxi at a vehicular checkpoint between miles 66 and 67 on the Philip Goldson Highway in Corozal. The driver, identified as Karl Theodore Pope, was informed that a search would be conducted on the vehicle for drugs and illegal firearms. During the search, officers discovered eleven parcels of cannabis weighing a total of 9,540 grams.

Pope was subsequently charged with drug possession with intent to supply and pleaded guilty. He has been remanded to the Central Prison, awaiting sentencing in November.

B.D.F.’s Investigation into Bribery Allegations Intensifies

Accused Murderer Found Dead in Corozal

The body of accused murderer Edwin Marin was found on Sunday near Patchakan Village, Corozal District. Marin had been on the run after fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend, Deisha Hill, and her mother, Natasha Clarke, on September 9.

The tragic incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m., when Edwin Marin reportedly visited Hill’s home in Corozal, seeking custody of their daughter. A verbal confrontation ensued between the two parents, during which Marin allegedly threatened Hill and her mother, Natasha Clarke.

Mother and Daughter Killed in Corozal; Killer on the Lam

Marin left but returned a short time later as a passenger on a motorcycle. He reportedly entered the house and opened fire, fatally shooting both Hill and Clarke.

Marin had prior run-ins with the law. According to records, Marin was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm in March 2020, after an incident in Corozal Town where he fired shots at Vanessa Matus. While Matus was unharmed, Marin was arrested and later faced charges.

13yo Raped by her Stepfather

Authorities have officially arrested and charged a 31-year-old man from Corozal District with three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and three counts of sexual assault.

On Wednesday, August 30, 2024, a woman brought her 13-year-old daughter to the police station. They reported that between 2021 and 2023, the girl’s stepfather had inappropriately touched her and engaged in sexual activities with her multiple times. A medical examination confirmed that the minor had been sexually abused.

Farmer Sentenced to 16 Years for Raping Minor

Four Arrested in Sarteneja Cocaine Bust

Police have arrested and charged four individuals following a major drug bust in northern Belize.

On the night of Wednesday, September 18, around 9:00 p.m., authorities executed a search warrant at the residence of 35-year-old Armando Torrez, a Belizean fisherman from the Corozal District. Present at the home were 36-year-old Mirna Durantes, 32-year-old Delwyn Novelo, and 37-year-old Nigel Neal. While Torrez, Durantes, and Novelo are from the Corozal District, Neal hails from the Belize District.

The search uncovered 25 parcels of suspected cocaine, weighing a total of 28.38 kilograms (62.57 pounds). Samples were taken from all the parcels for further analysis.

The following day, police charged Armando Israel Torres, Mirna Mira Durantes, Delwyn Gildardo Novelo, and Nigel Alexander Neal with “Possession of Controlled Drugs with Intent to Supply.” They were arraigned at the Corozal Magistrate’s Court, where Torres pleaded guilty with an explanation, while the other three pleaded not guilty. Torres did not enter a formal plea, and all four have been remanded to the Kolbe Foundation until November 15, 2024.

Non-Functional AR-15 Rifle Reported Missing from BDF Training Hall

An AR-15 rifle has been reported missing from the Belize Defence Force (BDF) training hall in the Corozal District. BDF personnel discovered the rifle’s absence during a recent inventory check, although it remains unclear when and how it went missing. According to BDF Chief of Staff Major Roberta Usher, the missing rifle was non-functional and used primarily for ceremonial purposes.

Despite its inoperability, Major Usher says that the BDF is taking the situation seriously and is actively working with law enforcement to locate the weapon and prevent similar incidents in the future. Usher also indicated that further details regarding the circumstances of the disappearance will emerge once the investigation progresses.

This is not the first time a BDF weapon has gone unaccounted for. In August 2023, an M4 commando rifle went missing from Camp Belizario in the Cayo District but was recovered by police ten days later.

Mother and Daughter Killed in Corozal

The Corozal Police Department is investigating a double murder that occurred this morning in that municipality. The victims are 46-year-old Natasha Clarke and her daughter, 21-year-old Deysha Hill. Best information to News 5 is that both women were allegedly shot dead by Hill’s ex-boyfriend.

The incident happened near the entrance of Skeleton Town. The ex-boyfriend is being sought by investigators.

BREAKING: Shooting in Corozal

News Five has confirmed with the Belize Police Department that a shooting took place a couple of minutes ago in Corozal Town. We have also learnt that two persons were shot.

The Department told News Five, “We can confirm the investigation of a shooting where two persons were injured. Details will be provided as they become available. Investigators are on the scene. A suspect is being sought.”

Best information to News Five is that one of the victims has died while the other is in a critical condition.

This is a developing story.

Updated 12:02 p.m. local time

Corozal’s Cell Phone Repair Training for Women and Youth Ends

The Ministry of Investment, the National Women’s Commission, and the Corozal Think Tank have successfully concluded their innovative “Cell Phone Repair Course for Women and Youth” at the Corozal ITVET. The training, which ran from August 19 to August 30, 2024, aimed to address the shortage of skilled cell phone technicians in Belize and provide new self-employment opportunities.

The course consisted of 10 in-person sessions for 15 participants. Each trainee received a certificate of completion and a set of specialised repair equipment, including antistatic mats, electric multimeters, soldering irons, and magnifying lamps.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to diversify economic activities in the district and boost the Orange Economy. Chair of the Corozal Think Tank, Thea Garcia-Ramirez, encouraged residents to stay informed about upcoming training opportunities.