Belize - Belize News - Channel5Belize.com - Great Belize Productions - Belize Breaking News
Home » Featured, Trials » No charges against sergeant who shot and killed Cpl. Gavin Sanchez
Oct 20, 2010

No charges against sergeant who shot and killed Cpl. Gavin Sanchez

sgt. paulino reyes

In the controversial case against Sergeant Paulino Reyes, it is now known that no one will be charged for the shooting death of Police Corporal Gavin Sanchez, who went down in a hail of gunfire earlier this year.  The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided that there is no cause for action and Reyes will not be charged for Sanchez’s death.  The cop on cop violence occurred after three a.m. on Thursday March eighteenth, 2010 at the living quarters for cops behind the San Pedro Police Formation on Ambergris Caye. Both cops got into an argument at Wet Willies where Reyes was performing ‘extra duties’ and Sanchez was socializing. After the argument, Corporal Sanchez was escorted to the stationhouse where, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Miguel Segura, other officers heard Sanchez shout that he would “kill that boy.” It is believed that one of the key pieces of evidence was in a text message that Sanchez sent to the Officer Commanding the San Pedro Formation hours before the shooting in which he indicated similar intentions.   Later that night, Sanchez was found wearing a white bullet proof vest and in a pool of his own blood outside Sergeant Reyes’ room.  The family of the slain cop is very upset by the DPP’s position because at least six slugs were removed from his body, which they believe indicates that the sergeant’s intention was not merely to injure Sanchez.  We’ll have more on this story on Thursday’s newscast.


Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.

Advertise Here

26 Responses for “No charges against sergeant who shot and killed Cpl. Gavin Sanchez”

  1. Cutty Ligiyaba says:

    So case closed-it was Justifiable force and harm–If anyone threatens another they can pull there

    gun and empty the magazine or spray bullets–if this is ok DPP, then OK.. BELIZEANS lets pray….

  2. Earl Grey says:

    WE DO NEED THE REST OF THE STORY………. and maybe an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGASTION!!!

  3. Rizzo says:

    Did anyone of his family think that maybe Reyes was just defending himself.

  4. Charles Green says:

    Something wrong somewhere, 6 bullets should not be used to stop a man, 6 bullets are meant to KILL. The least Sanchez should be charged with is manslaughter, 6 bullets is not self-defence. Please don’t tell me Sanchez is still a cop “protecting” the innocent (probably been promoted to Inspector by now)

  5. Edith says:

    I cannot understand this. How do u shoot a man 9 times n call it self defense while wearing a bullet proof vest? That right there shows he had intentions. It was premeditated murder. He knew what he wanted to do n he did it. Now he’s walking away a free man. That’s a terrible terrible crime n very very bad judgement on the part of the DPP office. He’s a police officer, trained to deal with stressful m dangerous situations. If he could have shot to hurt, not kill, that officer if he felt threatened. I am hoping this case will be reopened n revisited because those findings don’t seem right.

  6. concerned citizen says:

    If you shoot a man one time in self defense he will get the message but shooting someone 9 times No… Sgt. Reyes intended to commit murder. Shame on the police force, they have a murderer walking in uniform, but to the police its just another black man dead. So Sgt. Reyes can walk of from the crime of murder.

  7. alex says:

    the one with the bullet proof was Sanches not Reyes! he was the one that intended to kill but it turn the opposite on him. Reyes had to defend himself . Moreover this Sanches was one of those police officers who thing they are bad! he just got what he was looking for! Reyes is the kind of officer we need to fight these criminals nowadays, DONT PLAY JUST SHOOT!!

  8. Jessica says:

    Taralee get Dicky and sue sgt. Paulino Reyes and den , sue the DPP fi no have commonsense.

  9. Islander says:

    hear you all CHAIRBORN COMMANDOES , talking about if you shoot a man one time he will retreat bla bla bla…

    Gavin Sanches RIP was wearing a bullet resistant vest meaning that you could keep shooting and he could keep his posture standing up…DONT BELIEVE ME? Watch the documentary on the NORTH HOLLYWOOD SHOOTOUT where police officers literally dumped boxes of bullets at two bullet resistant vest clad bank robbers and they just keept standing as if though it was nothing.

    Ask any soldier who has seen action in Iraq or Afghanistan lately about the stopping power of the 9mm bullet and see what they have to say.

    If emplying an entire magazine is required to stop the threat then that is what is required to stop the threat.

    DON’T FORGET THAT GAVIN SANCHES HAD AN ILLEGAL .45, AND HIS KNAPSACK WITH HIS PASSPORT READY TO LEAVE..

    From the begging I saw this as a clear self defense situation.

    Like I said watch the REAL footage of the North Hollywood Shootout where police dumped over six hundred rounds of 9mm and buckshot at the two bullet resistant vest clad bank thieves and then draw your own conclusion…THE SHOT TO THE HEAD WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED GAVIN FROM KILLING REYES.

  10. aha says:

    dtas stupid..so u r saying that it is ok to take away someones life.What is the justice system in Belize coming too. Shame on those investigators;they all need to be removed.If i was investigating bet there wud b a case.

  11. GOD FEARING youth says:

    This dah one serious story, Dead man tell no tale. mek we see what 5 got to say lata today

  12. Cutty Ligiyaba says:

    Islander—It is true what you say about protective wear–This case is totally different I would have

    applauded Reyes if Sanchez was shooting at him but this is not the case besides –Reyes is

    trained to know that he can disable instead of kill in this case MURDER— Alex–Let s pray—–thats

    what you like—DON’T PLAY JUST SHOOT–just pray that ALEX or his family is never caught up..

  13. karla says:

    ITS INCREDIBLE HOW WE SEE WWHAT WE JUST WANT TO SEE.. IMAGINE A POLICE THAT IS DRINKING, THREATENS TO KILL YOU, THEN PUTS ON A BULLET PROOF VEST AND ENTERS YOUR ROOM WITH A FIREARM TO KILL YOU.. FOR THOSE THAT ARE SLOWWWWW… THE DECEASED HAD A BULLET PROOF VEST ON HIM, HAD A GUN IN HIS HAND WITH ALL THE PREMEDITATED INTENTION TO KILL SERGEANT REYES..NOW IF THE DECEASED HAD A BULLLET PROOF VEST, DON¨´T YOU THINK THAT IF YOU DO NOT SHOOT TO KILL THEN THE YOUUUU WILL BE KILLLED INSTEAD.. IT WAS SELF DEFENSE…SERGEANNT REYES WAS AA PROFESSSIONAL , HE KNEW HIS LIFE WAS AT STAKE AND HE HAD TO SHOT THIS WAY OR HE WOULD BE DEAD NOW INSTEAD…VERYTHING IN BELIZE CITY HAS TO BE THROWN ON RACE AND EXCUSED ON RACE WHEN IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF WHOM WHAT TO INTERPRET IT THAT WAY WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE FACTS..

  14. Francisco Patt says:

    Islander and Alex you clearly share the same opinion as the minister of tourism but you are entitled to your own opinion. Kill the man because he is black. This is nothing but a cover up. From the start of the investigation the Sergeant in Charge of San Pedro said “This is murder”. At the scene Cpl Gavin Sanchez was lying dead with one gun shot wound on the center of his forehead, one to the left side of his nose, one unnderneath his chin that exited his head back and where the bullet had exited there was a hole in the ground, one gun shot to the left leg that shatttered his left knee, one gunshot to the right side of his groin that exited the right buttocks, one to his right ankle, one on his right bicep that exited his right shoulder one on the right side of his back that lodged in his left shoulder blade. He had a bullet proof vest but not one shot on the vest. There were three expended shells on the body. PC BRoaster gave a statement that he was in his room when he heard some shots and then he heard someone who he recognized as CPL Sanchez say ” Sarge y u d shoot me you the shoot me fu noting” Come on this is an outright case of murder. we need a Commission of Inquiry or else beware of the consequences.

  15. Anastacia says:

    Sanchez was no saint. He had a “bad cop” reputation and I know of at least one Supreme Court case where he and 3 other officers beat a 3rd form student senseless. Nonetheless, I do believe that further investigation needs to be done into Sanchez’s death. If Reyes had gotten threats from Sanchez then why didn’t he get help? leave? Was emptying his gun in him his only option? If this is the result when a police officer shoots his fellow officer, you already know what will be the result when a police officer shoots me and you out here.

  16. Francisco Patt says:

    Anastacia you are a fool Sanchez ahd a reputation og being a bad cop but who classified as a bad cop. The criminals and as for the third form student that got his patting where is he now. He was charged for taking out the eye of another young man. He is front of the court now.

  17. rosk says:

    has any of you been in a shoot out?? Guess not…… listen people WHEN SOMEBODY IS POINTING YOU WITH A GUN AND IS WEARING A BULLET PROOF VEST…. 9 SHOTS SEEM TO LITTLE TO YOU AT THAT TIME TO STOP HIM… believe me … i have been through something similar to that…. SO I KNOW WHAT iAM TALKING ABOUT!!!

    Cmon…. we all know paulino was one of the so many bad eggs in the police force…..

    werent we all clamoring to get those bad eggs out of the system??? We should thank Reyes for doing just that…. I feel sorry for Reyes spouse… she has no fault… but I feel the same way when one of those street criminals are taken down….

    bUT AGAIN I FORGOT THAT WE BELIZEANS ACTIVATE OUR COMPLAIN BUTTON EVERYTIME OUR GOOD POLICE TAKE DOWN ANYONE…… NO MATTER HOW PERVERSE THEY WERE

  18. roska says:

    has any of you been in a shoot out?? Guess not…… listen people WHEN SOMEBODY IS POINTING YOU WITH A GUN AND IS WEARING A BULLET PROOF VEST…. 9 SHOTS SEEM TO LITTLE TO YOU AT THAT TIME TO STOP HIM… believe me … i have been through something similar to that…. SO i KNOW WHAT IAM TALKING TO YOU ABOUT…..!!!!

    Cmon…. we all know paulino was one of the so many bad eggs in the police force…..

    werent we all clamoring to get those bad eggs out of the system??? We should thank Reyes for doing just that…. I feel sorry for Reyes spouse… she has no fault… but I feel the same way when one of those street criminals are taken down….

    bUT AGAIN I FORGOT THAT WE BELIZEANS ACTIVATE OUR COMPLAIN BUTTON EVERYTIME OUR GOOD POLICE TAKE DOWN ANYONE…… NO MATTER HOW PERVERSE THEY WERE

  19. Rastaman forever says:

    bad man is bad man….. black, white, brown or green….. why we blacks have to bring the race issue anytime a black man is killed??? so many black men have been killed by other blacks…. so?? no problem…..

    but if its a hispanic killing a black man…. even if its obvious self defense and theblack man is a rotten egg….. then it is racism….

    cmon brethren… come out of your mental slavery…. reason we many of us as blacks cant prgress…… let’s stop using our colour as a shield for our weaknesses…… no wonder so many killers are our brethren…..

  20. Islander says:

    To you naysayers PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WAS GAVIN SANCHES DOING IN REYES QUARTERS WITH A LOADED .45 IN HIS HAND WEARING A BULLET RESISTANT VEST ?

    WAS HE THERE TO BORROW SUGAR?

    Seriously answer that question, WAS GAVIN SANCHES THERE TO BORROW SUGAR?

  21. Islander says:

    Needless to mention that if anyone ever threatened my life and showed up at my doorstep with a pistol and bullet resistant vest my reaction will be as good as Mr. Reyes’s.

    Hope the day someone threatens to kill you and shows up at your doorstep with a pistol you do not try to figure out how much sugar he wants to borrow and instead defend yourselves.

  22. mr. ok says:

    If it was vice Vers the Verdic would be diff trust me

  23. Cutty Ligiyaba says:

    KARLA—————————you might be a close friend or even a relative of the the MURDERER

    REYES—-thats your CURSE—-REYES KILLED SANCHEZ and the DPP is Ok with it —probably

    under instructions from higher CORRUPT POLITICIAN– THATS NOT OK—Like I Said Before

    People Need To Start Asking The Question Why?—later we find ourselves the victim of our own

    belief and gullibility since we refuse to do the right thing—I said it before and I’m gonna say it

    again—COMMENCE PRAYING BELIZE…..

  24. Cutty Ligiyaba says:

    ISLANDER —————It Is OK to shoot and kill anyone that THREATENS YOU—You can empty

    your Magazine if it is a pistol or revolve all the lead in the case of a revolver—-The DPP will get

    you off through the magical spew of your CORRUPT POLITICIAN—-maybe you might see

    someone in what looks like a vest and IT Is OK for you to go ahead and PULL TRIGGER—Thats

    the future of BELIZE—-Remember lessons learned—-don’t run outta bullets and make sure

    your steel don’t over heat or run outta bullets—cause its your life—-SAME to you

    ROSKA__ANASTACIA— I find it hard to fathom that you can’t see that REYES KILLED THAT

    MAN———–besides it is true that if the case was vice versa–GAVIN SANCHEZ would be in

    prison already or laying dead with the one he should have terminated…. WORD…. Tonight

    PLEASE GET ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY….

  25. JahKid says:

    Nobody has the right to take away the life of another. Outright!!! Not even my life is to be taken away by anybody, and even if anybody would just want to hold mi up for my things and I have a weapon and I get the upper hand, I TELL YOU, I WILL DEFEND MYSELF. If anybody thinks I am wrong, I don’t believe them. Almost all the crimes and vehicle accident and domestic abuse and I can continue naming more… But nobody talks about it, nobody talks about it why??? Why doesn’t anybody talk about this main contributor to all these deaths??? Why??? LICOR, LICOR, LICOR, LICOR. RUM, RUM, RUM RUM. Every activities that occur, if there is no RUM it is not hype up. Drunken men are very, very, very DANGEROUS. It doesn’t matter where you are in society, what level you are in education, RUM is your doom. You will suffer. Thanks to the Minister for the cigarrette MOVE. Now make a move on RUM, or are you a LICOR SLAVE too. In regards to the incident with these 2 Policemen, RUM was the leader that led to disrespect and anger. I am with the words of @Rastaman Forever. Respect Rasta!!! Get off the stupidity of Spanish and Blacks. We are the same. Everyone has a mind of it’s own. Crime has no color.

  26. concerned says:

    Anybody invades my space or living quarters and is armed will receive similar faith as Sanchez. Islander, you are so right. I follow support your view Rastaman forever.

    I don’t blame Reyes for using force since his space was invaded and the guy was armed and with bullet vest. Reyes knew it was it was him or Sanchez. Mr. Ok…you sound so stupid with your comment.

Comments are closed