Belize City Teens Arraigned for Xmas Day Burglary

Police have arrested and charged a pair of minors for the crime of burglary; one was additionally charged with aggravated assault against a police officer.  Both teenagers were shot on Christmas Day when they were busted inside a Chinese store on Lakeview Street.  They had reportedly broken into the building when police responded to the burglary in progress.  During the incident, sixteen-year-old Lionel Gordon and Denver Domingo were shot in the lower legs when they allegedly refused to surrender to police.  Superintendent Alejandro Cowo provides additional details.

Alejandro Cowo

Supt. Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Eastern Division

“They were found inside of a house where they do not live; there was an amount of items that were stolen, which have not been recovered hence the reason why they were charged for that burglary.”

Duane Moody

“As to the investigation on the shooting, I know at least the parent of one of the minors did come out and say that unnecessary force, excessive force was used on his son.”

Supt. Alejandro Cowo

“Well, police are guided by the amount of force that can be used whenever you feel that your life is being threatened. We have information from the police that were on the scene that they were attacked with knife and they were armed with their issued revolver or nine mm and that’s what they used. So they were justified, according to our laws.”