Cotton Tree Village Shooting, Rio On Pools Rescue, and San Pedro Police Controversy

Murder in Cotton Tree 

A murder occurred on Saturday night in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo.

Clint Castillo was identified as the murder victim, and Andrew Muns was injured in the shooting incident. Both men were shot multiple times. The incident occurred around 10:35 p.m. near the primary school in the village, which remains under a State of Emergency due to increased crime and violence. According to police reports, an argument among a group of individuals, including Castillo and Muns, escalated, leading to the shooting. Castillo succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the Western Regional Hospital early Sunday morning. Muns remains in critical condition, with gunshot wounds to his shoulder and neck. Police have detained one person in connection with the shooting.

Dramatic Rescue at Rio On Pools

On Saturday evening, a daring rescue operation took place at Rio On Pools in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Cayo. A Canadian couple became stranded on a rock as water levels rapidly rose around them. The Belize Defence Force (BDF), Technical Rescue and EMS Teams, BISART, and Spanish Lookout Fire-Rescue-EMS quickly mobilised to the scene.

The rescue, which took hours, required a meticulous setup of ropes, tag lines, and a raft to safely extricate the couple. Both individuals were successfully rescued and treated for mild hypothermia. Authorities stress the importance of exercising extreme caution around rivers and waterways during this rainy period, as flash floods remain an imminent threat.

Controversial Police Incident in San Pedro

Over the weekend, San Pedro police were involved in a high-stakes pursuit of two armed men. During the detention of one suspect, a bystander captured a video showing a police officer pointing a gun at the detainee’s head, slapping him with the pistol, and using abusive language. The officer then aggressively commanded the bystander to stop recording.

The video has sparked controversy and raised questions about the officer’s conduct.