Cop shoots villager; claims self-defence

A police officer from Valley of Peace is tonight being investigated after he shot and killed a man on Thursday. According to reports, around 6:30 Thursday evening, P.C. Valentine Uk responded to a call for help from a villager who claimed he was being threatened by a man identified as nineteen year old Erasimo Rodriguez. Uk says when he found Rodriguez he was in a fight with yet another person. The youth was order to stop, but the officer says the young man then turned on him, punching him in the face and picking up a rock. Uk, armed with his service revolver, fired a shot, which caught Rodriguez in the leg. The bleeding man then reached into the band of his pants for something and the police officer shot him again, this time injuring him in his mid-section. Rodriguez was rushed to the Belmopan Hospital, but died while receiving medical attention. The internal affairs unit has launched a full investigation into this incident. According to police press officer G. Michael Reid, a knife was recovered from Rodriguez’s body.