Emerson Garnett, a thirty-four-year-old from Freetown Road, Belize City, faced new charges of sexual assault and wounding in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court this morning. Previously a murder suspect, Garnett has been in custody since Sunday. He appeared before Magistrate Ludlow Black without representation and pleaded not guilty to both charges. The allegations stem from a domestic incident on April twentieth, 2025, where Garnett allegedly grabbed the private parts of a thirty-eight-year-old woman and caused her injury. The victim, who was once in a relationship with Garnett, reported that he tried to hug her, and when she refused, he threatened to kill her and himself. Garnett then allegedly assaulted her, punching her several times in the face. Despite hearing the victim’s account, Garnett maintained his innocence. Magistrate Black informed him that he need not explain further since he had pleaded not guilty. With no objection to bail from the prosecutor, conditions were set for Garnett’s release, including no contact with the victim or her family, staying one hundred yards away from her, and reporting to the Queen Street Police Station every Friday. Garnett met bail and is due back in court on June eleventh, 2025.
Tonight, a Belize City mother is out on bail after being accused of cyberbullying a former co-worker. Armida Adela Gonzalez, a 49-year-old self-employed resident of West Street, Belize City, faced charges under the Cybercrime Act for allegedly sending obscene and vulgar computer data to harass Kiara Middleton. Gonzalez appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Ludlow Black, who read her the single charge. She pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor requested bail conditions, including that Gonzalez must stay 100 yards away from Middleton and not interfere with her. Gonzalez explained that they used to work together but no longer do. Bail was set at $500, which Gonzalez met. Her next court date is June 12, 2025.
The Coc family of Punta Gorda experienced a horrific Easter holiday when one of their loved ones was brutally murdered. Around nine on Good Friday morning, Jeremiah Coc’s body was found in the Indianville area. Police were called to a spot behind a house on Mahogany Street, where they discovered Coc with multiple chop wounds to his neck and back. Today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero informed reporters that Coc had been socializing before his murder. The two individuals charged are twenty-seven-year-old construction worker Axel Zetino and a seventeen-year-old Guatemalan.
“On Friday, the 18th of April, 2025, around 8:55 a.m., Punta Gorda Police responded to the discovery of a body on Mahogany Street in Punta Gorda. Upon their arrival, they saw the lifeless body of a male person with several chop wounds. The person was identified as Jeremiah Coc of Punta Gorda. An investigation was carried out, which revealed that Coc was along several persons at a bar drinking. Thereafter, they left and thereafter his body was discovered. Investigation has led to the arrest of Axel Zetino and a 17-year-old who were jointly charged with the crime of murder.”
Britney Gordon
“Is there any motive?”
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“They were drinking and they had some dispute. That is what led to the chopping incident.”
Reporter
“Sir, is there any connection between the deceased and who was arrested?
A.C.P. Hilberto Romero
“ Yes. They know each other. They were at the bar together.
Britney Gordon
“Do we have any insight into what they might have been arguing?
News Five provided live broadcast this morning as law enforcement authorities tracked a Tropic Air flight that was hijacked by a U.S. national leaving Corozal. He has been identified as forty-nine-year-old Akinyela Sawa Taylor. A passenger on board the aircraft shot and killed Taylor moments after the plane landed at the Phillip Goldson International Airport. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
This is the flight path of an aircraft hijacked by forty-nine-year-old U.S. national Akinyela Sawa Taylor. Armed with a knife, Taylor demanded that Howell Grange, a pilot for Tropic Air, fly him out of the country. The flight had fourteen passengers, including an infant. Flight tracking shows the pilot made a sharp turn after takeoff, circled around, then headed south. South of Belize City, the plane turned east over the Caribbean Sea, circled Caye Caulker and San Pedro Town, then returned over land near the Phillip Goldson International Airport. It went back out to sea before landing at the airport an hour and a half after leaving Corozal. A licensed firearm holder on board shot and killed Taylor moments after landing. These Cessna Caravan planes can travel over a thousand miles in ideal conditions, but the pilot told Taylor they were low on fuel, according to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“And at one point in time they demanded that he landed at an area where they can refuel. Our greatest concern was the fuel consumption of the plane. The information we were getting was that the fuel was depleting, and the plane was still at a very high altitude moving.”
Law enforcement, medical, and fire personnel were ready at the Belize City Municipal Airport in case the pilot landed there. Taylor had stabbed three people on board: Jair Castaneda, a Tropic Air employee, Fitzgerald Brown, and the pilot, Howell Grange. Images and videos from the plane show a severely injured Castaneda, while the other passengers huddled at the back of the plane.
Howell Grange
Chester Williams
“So we had deployed at the International, Belize City Municipal, Caye Caulker, San Pedro, Dangriga and Even the Coastal Road, because there is an airstrip there. We did this to ensure that if the plane landed, we would have been able to intercept the hijacker.”
Jair Castaneda
When the plane made its second pass over the Caribbean Sea, it had only twenty minutes of fuel left. Authorities then called in Astrum Helicopter to track the aircraft.
Chester Williams
“We were now thinking outside the box, knowing the fuel was depleting we were hoping we didn’t have to move from a search and rescue to search and recovery. The think was for the helicopter to follow the plane to see where it would land so if they received to crash land the plane in the sea or one of the islands we would have been there quickly to respond.”
A social media user caught this video of the plane flying over Saint George’s Caye, just east of Belize City. The passenger who shot and killed Taylor after the plane landed was among the injured and is being hailed as a hero. This is the first incident of its kind in recent history, leaving many to wonder why Taylor hijacked the plane and what his story is. U.S. Embassy of Belize Public Affairs Officer Luke Martin was at the PGIA, working with local authorities.
Reporter
“Can you tell us about what you found out about the hijacker and what was his motive?”
Luke Martin
Luke Martin, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Belize
“We don’t have any information on him at all. We know that his name was being released. We don’t know what was his intention, why he wanted to go back to the U.S., the reason of it. So, right now we don’t have any information on that.”
Paul Lopez
“So you have confirmed that he was trying to get back to the U.S. on this plane?”
Luke Martin
“That is reports that we have heard, but we have nothing direct on that. This is something that the Belize authorities, we trust them to resolve and look at well. We share that commitment with them to make sure Belize is safe, airlines are safe, tourist are safe, borders are safe and secure, this is all part of that as well. It highlights that important event of everybody investing their time and money.”
Local authorities have uncovered more details about Akinyela Sawa Taylor. Over the weekend, Mexican authorities denied him entry at the northern border, but he managed to sneak into Belize through an unauthorized entry point.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“There was an issue last night from what I was told at the freezone involving the same person. So he seems to be a problematic person, and so that is what we know about him a part from the fact that he is a U.S. veteran.”
During a State Department press briefing this afternoon, spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed the Tropic Air hijacking by a U.S. national in Belize. Bruce confirmed that the Department of State is aware of the situation. We also spoke with Public Relations Officer Luke Martin of the U.S. Embassy in Belize about the report the embassy will send to its U.S. counterparts.
Reporter
“An attempted hijacking of an airplane internally in Belize, Tropic Air. It involved an alleged hijacker who is a U.S. citizen, according to law enforcement report, he was fatally shot. He has been identified as a U.S. citizen and passport holder. Does the U.S. have any information on this?”
Tammy Bruce
Tammy Bruce, Spokesperson, U.S. Department of State
“Not yet. We watched that unfold like everyone else. It is horrifying. We are grateful, like all of us are, that this did not turn into a mass casualty event with over a dozen people on the plane. We know a few details. We don’t know much more. As I was working on the briefing that came across my timeline. It came across yours. It is terrifying. But thank God. We don’t know about injuries and any other details, so we cant comment. But we know there was effective law enforcement on the ground and that is all I have for you now. But obviously we are watching it now.”
Paul Lopez
“What do you have to send or say to your counterparts in the U.S. at this point? What is the next step?”
Luke Martin
Luke Martin, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Belize
“I really think that highlighting the importance of Belize. Belize is a regional partner. It is important to Central America and the Caribbean. We want to keep ensuring that we have traction and connections without law enforcement colleagues here as well.”
Paul Lopez
“What do we know about his family members in the U.S., where he originated or what state.”
Luke Martin
“We don’t have that information. We don’t know his situation, other than the name.”
Paul Lopez
“Will the embassy be working with the local authority to do a thorough background check.”
Luke Martin
“Investigation will happen, but this is in Belize so the Belize authorities will handle that as well.”
Tropic Air released a statement after the incident, calling it a serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency. They praised the pilot’s heroic effort and extraordinary courage in safely landing the plane under intense pressure. Tropic Air expressed sympathy for the injured passengers and emphasized that safety is their top priority, with pilots undergoing rigorous training to handle any situation. The airline also thanked the Prime Minister, the Department of Civil Aviation, law enforcement, and medical teams for their swift response. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams visited the injured passengers at private healthcare facilities in Belize City. We spoke with Minister Musa.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Myself and the commissioner visited the pilot, Mr. Howell Grange over at Health Care Partners a few minutes ago. Mr. Grange was undergoing a CT Scan to ensure that no organs was affected. He received stab wounds as well. We have two patients here at the Belize Medical Associates. Both are being treated at this time. Currently no serious impact to their organs as well. But they are badly injured. They have several stab wounds to the head and over the body. We had a chance to see them. They are in good spirit and we will continue to keep them in our prayers.”
A prominent faculty member at the University of Belize has been placed on administrative leave due to numerous sexual offense allegations. News Five has obtained documents showing that for over ten years, students have been writing to the office of student affairs about the alleged behavior. Tonight, Dr. Pio Saqui, a lecturer and President of the University of Belize’s Faculty and Staff Union, is at home while the university investigates the allegations. Although the probe is in its early stages, the complaints are numerous and detailed. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
News Five has confirmed that Dr. Pio Saqui, a faculty member at the University of Belize and President of the University of Belize’s Faculty and Staff Union, has been placed on administrative leave following numerous sexual offense allegations. These allegations date back to 2010. In one instance, a student wrote to former Dean of Student Affairs, William Neal, seeking help. She stated that, quote, there are several other victims of sexual harassment, end quote. She claimed that Saqui sent her a friend request on Facebook and then began sending frequent messages, calling her his favorite student, saying she was pretty, and that he had a crush on her.
The student even provided printed copies of the messages Saqui allegedly sent, which included comments like, quote, you how bad you are with me… now I am sad… congrats…. be a good girlfriend and always respect yourself, end quote, and, quote, if you need a secret hug… I am here always, end quote. When she ignored him, he responded that she was hurting his feelings. She also alleged that Saqui repeatedly invited her to his house for a drink, which she found unprofessional and uncomfortable, affecting her interest in the class. A second student wrote to Neal in 2015 with similar allegations. She accepted his friend request on Facebook and would ask him about assignments and tests, but he would always respond by telling her not to stress about tests because they would be easy and that she should come to his house to relax and drink. She also alleged that he would be with her even when her boyfriend was around.
The latest report against Saqui came in 2025. The letter to the Office of Student Affairs detailed numerous alleged behaviors amounting to sexual harassment and misconduct, including unwanted touching, unsolicited and persistent comments about students’ appearance and bodies, repeated requests for hugs and physical contact, and invasive questions about students’ personal relationships, sexual activity, and home life. The author of the letter requested that Saqui be removed from classroom and field activities pending investigation, that a confidential and impartial investigation be conducted, and that students be protected from retaliation and receive necessary support. The letter also noted that his alleged actions violate the university’s student handbook and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act. It included testimonies from four female students who recounted instances where he allegedly asked for hugs, held their hands inappropriately, made sexual remarks, engaged in unsolicited shoulder massages, and sent uncomfortable messages.
Today, the University of Belize told News Five, quote, we have received the allegations. We are taking them seriously. We are engaging transparent and thorough protocols of the UB policies with the intent for a speedy and fair resolution based on the necessary investigation, end quote. Notably, an official police report is yet to be filed. We will continue to follow these reports and the university’s investigation. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
Police have detained several women for a public brawl that occurred on Friday night in Digi Park. According to investigators, this fight quickly escalated to violence and resulted in one woman’s hospitalization after she was stabbed several times. Luckily, she is in stable condition, and no other serious injuries were reported. ACP Hilberto Romero has more details on the incident.
“On Friday eleventh period of April 2025, Chelsey Lewis reported that she was at New Town Barracks in Belize City when she had a fight with several females. As a result, she received stab wound injuries, she was taken to the KHMH for treatment and is in a stable condition. An investigation was carried out and Erynne Belezaire was arrested and charged for the crimes of dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm.”
Reporter
“Do police know why she stabbed her?”
Hilberto Romero
“They were socializing first at Thirsty Thursdays thereafter, they left from that iswhere they got into the argument that New Town Brracks, that led to the stabbing.”
Erynne Belezaire
Britney Gordon
“Was anyone else injured?”
Hilberto Romero
“No one else was injured.”
Reporter
“So they were together. They were like friends?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yeah, they were all at that location before the incident.”
Reporter
“You don’t know what the nature of the argument was?
Hilberto Romero
“No, we are not sure what they were arguing about.”
Reporter
“Was anyone else detained with respect to the fight itself?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yeah. Other persons were detained, but only this person was arrested fordangerous harm as she did the stabbing.”
That stabbing incident left one woman hospitalized in stable condition, while her alleged attacker faced court today. Twenty-six-year-old Erynne Belezaire was charged with dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm for allegedly stabbing Chelsea Lewis on Friday at Digi Park on Newtown Barracks. Reports say Lewis and four friends were socializing at the Thursday Thirsty Nightclub before walking to the nearby park. There, they were approached by two other women, including Belezaire, and an argument broke out, escalating into violence. During the fight, Belezaire allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Lewis multiple times in the face and body. Today, Belezaire appeared in court without a lawyer and pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was granted bail in the sum of one thousand, five hundred dollars, plus one surety of the same amount, which she met. Under the bail conditions, she must not interfere with Lewis or her family and must stay at least one hundred yards away from Lewis. Belezaire’s next court date is set for June sixteenth, 2025.
On Friday, police confirmed that twenty-four-year-old Luis Marin, who was gunned down in Belize City, was wanted for questioning in relation to the Belmopan shooting incident. On April fifth, several men were captured on CCTV footage scrambling out of a car as a slew of bullets were fired in their direction from a gunman in a nearby vehicle. While no lives were lost, one passenger, Jamal Hyde, was injured. Three days later, Marin would be fatally shot in Belize City. Following the incident, two men have been arrested and charged. ACP Hilberto Romero has more details on the arrest.
“Referenced the murder of Luis Marin that occurred at Pinks Alley. Police this weekend, arrested and charged Scorian Stuart and Michael Gillett jointly for the crime of murder.”
Reporter
“Was this indeed in retaliation?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes. That is the information we have received. It’s retaliation for that incident.”
Reporter
“Were the two men who are arrested in the vehicle in the for Belmopan incident?”
Hilberto Romero
“No, we don’t have information that they were in that vehicle.”
Reporter
“What connection do they have to the injured person from that shooting?”
Hilberto Romero
“They had some interaction with those persons and that is what led to this murder.”
Reporter
“Were they laywaitiing Mr. Marin like following him around?”
Hilberto Romero
“No. Well, he was at that area in a house when he was targeted. He was inside a house at the time.”
Reporter
“So was Marin believed to be one of the people in the car that had the shooter?”
Hilberto Romero
“Well, he at the time was wanted for questioning regards to that shooting. So thatis all information.”
Reporter
“Are the two men who have since been arrested and charged, known to police?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes. There are known.”
Reporter
“Would you be able to tell us about the affiliation, what group they may have been involved with?”
Hilberto Romero
“I will not provide that information, or an investigation was carried out when they were charged.”
Reporter
“Have police were able to detain all the other ones in suspects in that investigation?”
Hilberto Romero
“Persons were detained, interviewed, so far no one else has been arrested for any of the incident.”
