Security guard died from gun short at Tourist Village

Tourism-related operations at the Fort Street Tourism Village were on track this morning, despite news that a security guard lost his life there just before daybreak today. By the time the gates opened for visiting cruise ship passengers, there was nothing to indicate that the location had been the scene of a shooting. Police say the incident occurred around five a.m. and that the deceased, twenty-four year old Salome Bolon, a security officer with Fort Point Security Company, was on duty at the Militia Hall Plaza, opposite from the Tourism Village compound. When they arrived, police found Bolon in a sitting position on a wooden chair with a gunshot wound to the head. Bolon died two hours later while undergoing surgery. A nine millimeter pistol was also reportedly in his hand resting on his lap. And while street talk is that Bolon killed himself, his sister, who spoke with News Five off camera this morning, told us that the incident came as a shock to her. Bolon, who lived with her on Mangrove Street, left home in good spirits last evening to report to work and when we spoke with her this morning at the scene of the incident, she was trying to make sense of what had happened. Police are not ruling out foul play.

Superintendent Valdez says they have since seized, for examination, the nine millimeter gun which was Bolon’s issued weapon from the security firm. They have also taken swab tests from Bolon’s hands to determine whether or not he was the one who pulled the trigger.

Supt. Julio Valdez, O.C., Belize City C.I.B
“They’re saying it could have been a suicide or they believe he shot himself but we are conducting an investigation to see what that reveals.”

Marion Ali
“Were there other officers on the site with him?”

Supt. Julio Valdez
“Yes, there were other officers on the site.”

Marion Ali
“What are they saying?”

Supt. Julio Valdez
“They were not present when that happened. They were at different areas. They are not at one spot. They were at different focal points but we’re investigating the matter as we speak.”