Man critical after North Front St. shootout

A Belize City man is in critical condition tonight at the KHMH after he was shot in the chest early Wednesday night. A trail of bloodstains still remains on the floor at the entrance to the Bistro Caribe club on North Front Street. Reports are that the club’s customers watched helplessly as the bar’s proprietor, 40-year old Dimas Villas, was shot. According to police, sometime between 7:00 and 8:00 that night, a man walked into the establishment and ordered a beer. But when it came time to pay the bartender, the man pulled out a handgun and demanded money. Villas saw what was happening and went to the aid of his employee. But the assailant fired a shot and it caught Villas in his chest. The gunman then made good his escape. Villas was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he remains in a critical, but stable condition. Police have been questioning a number of people who were at the bar that night, but so far have not made any arrests.