1 caught, 6 gunmen on the loose after shootout

A shootout between police and well armed gunmen Sunday night on the Western Highway has left authorities wondering just what kind of crime spree was being planned. The story unfolded early in the evening when, based on a tip, police set up a roadblock in Roaring Creek to intercept a suspicious car coming from the direction of Benque Viejo. When the vehicle, a blue Ford LTD with Orange Walk license plates, reached the barricade, it immediately reversed direction and tried to flee. When police gave chase, the car’s occupants opened fire with what appeared to be high-powered automatic rifles. The car then sped past the checkpoint and with police in pursuit it ran off the Western Highway, just east of the entrance to Guanacaste Park. Seven men jumped out of the car with police managing to catch only one; believed to be the driver. He is Belizean, Zacarias Copo Junior of Orange Walk Town. Along with Copo, police found a Galil assault rifle along with six magazines of ammunition totalling one hundred and fifty-five rounds. The Galil, an Israeli designed weapon similar to an AK-47, is manufactured in Guatemala and is standard issue for that country’s army. Also found was a black mask and one AR-15 rifle, which is the civilian version of the military M-16. Police are searching for the six other occupants of the car, all believed to be Guatemalans. Police believe that the Guatemalans illegally entered the country on foot and were met in Belize by Copo. A number of the men are known to police on both sides of the border and authorities here are receiving full co-operation from Guatemalan police. The suspects are considered armed and dangerous and residents of Cayo are asked to be particularly vigilant. Viewers with any information on the fugitives should immediately call the nearest police station.