Manhunt continues for Guatemalan gunmen
It had the potential to be another massive criminal disaster, but good intelligence and swift action by police on Sunday evening stopped a carload of heavily armed Guatemalans, assisted by a Belizean accomplice, from wreaking havoc in the jewel. Today, with five gunmen on the loose, News 5’s Jacqueline Woods received an update from authorities.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Police are still not saying much about the shootout that occurred a short distance outside of Guanacaste Park on the Western Highway. However, Senior Superintendent of Police Bernard Lino, the lead investigator in the case, says they believe the incident may have been part of a bigger operation.
Bernard Lino, Lead Investigator
“There is a possibility because criminality has no borders, so there could have been involvement from the other side of our border.”
Today, Zacarias Copo Junior, a Belizean who is believed to have been the driver of the blue Crown Victoria has been arrested and charged with the possession of prohibited firearm and other crimes. The police have seized the car along with a Galil assault rifle, AR-15 rifle, six magazines of ammunition and a black mask.
Today the manhunt continues for five other men believed to be Guatemalans who were inside the vehicle but managed to escape after police intercepted the car.
Bernard Lino
“As we speak, there are road-checks within several parts of the country. It is only proper that this be done in an attempt to capture those persons who we believe were involved in this crime. We have nothing to indicate whether or not they are wanted in Guatemala. But we have informed our counterparts regionally about these wanted men.”
Lino would not say where the men were heading because he says the police do not want to cause undue alarm. But they are asking the general public to be careful.
Bernard Lino
“We want to assure the Belizean public that as a professional Police Department, we are doing all what is necessary to catch these persons. We assure the public of the need to be extremely careful when going about their lawful business.”
Lino says there investigation has led them to believe the men entered the country illegally, but decline to say where Copo made contact with them. Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
