Police Say Recent Shooting Potentially Drug-Related  

2025 has started on a grim note, with Belize recording its second murder of the year. The first was fifty-nine-year-old fisherman Godfrey Hyde Junior from Belize City was found shot to death on Saturday morning at a fishing camp on the Turneffe Atolls. The violence continued into the early hours of Sunday morning, with reports of two homes being shot up in Corozal District—one in Corozal Town and the other in Ranchito Village. We spoke with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams for an update on these incidents, and he mentioned that the police suspect they may be drug related.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The Turneffe matter is one that we’re looking at. And from all indications again, I’m not going to say that this is conclusive, but from all indications we’re getting that it may be drug related. Information suggests is that the person who was killed might have found some drugs and or people believe that he might have found some drugs. And that was the reason why they went after him to try and get those drugs. Apparently, he did not surrender them. And so what happened  we have a team of officers and Coast Guard,  who are in the area doing some, some searches. Again, we, we do anticipate that there’s, there may be more persons involved. And so we need to do what needs to be done to prevent any further violence in the coastal area of Belize. Relating  back to those shootings that happened in Corozal. One in Ranchito and one in Corozal town,

 

Britney Gordon

“Do you know if they are related to each other since the timing and places were so close?”

 

Chester Williams

“At this time, no, I cannot say.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So you have no, no leads on that so far?”

 

Chester Williams

“No. We have some information, but nothing tangible at this time.”

 

Reporter

“Interpersonal dispute, rivalry, or external elements like narcotic drugs?”

 

Chester Williams

“Well, from what we, the information we’re getting that it might have been perpetrated by some group from Belize city. So, we’re looking at it”

 

Reporter

“Rivalry?”

 

Chester Williams

“Not rivalry, it could be job related, but we’re looking at it.”