Benque Police Investigate Shooting of Illegal Guatemalans

On Sunday, three men from the Guatemalan barrio of Castrillo de Suchitan headed into Belize to fish in the flooded Mopan River near Clarissa Falls. What happened there on Sunday night has the Benque Police a little baffled. One man, nineteen year old Cesar Umberto Chinchilla Rodriguez, was shot in the leg. Another was allegedly shot in the neck and fell into the Mopan River. He has not been found. The third fled back across the border. There are no leads on the gunman who allegedly fired on the three men from a distance away. The story is sensational, but details are sketchy at this point. Mike Rudon headed west this morning looking for answers, and has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

It is here, on the banks of the raging Mopan River inside Belizean territory, that three men came to fish on Sunday. Intelligence suggests that all three are from the small community of Castrillo de Suchitan, located about five hundred metres within the Guatemalan border north of Melchor de Mencos. At around nine that night, Police received a call stating that shots had been fired in the area of Clarissa Falls.

Stanley Bodden

Insp. Stanley Bodden, Deputy Commander, Benque Viejo

“We made inquiries in respect of the people who live and the caretakers in the area, and they indicated to the Police that yes they heard shots but did not know where the shots were coming from. Apparently the person who got shot walked out of Clarissa Falls to somewhere in Benque where they called the Police and that is where the Police went and picked him up.”

The man who got shot just below the right knee was Cesar Umberto Chinchilla Rodriguez, and he gave Police his version of events.

Insp. Stanley Bodden

“They allege that they were fishing in the area when they were shot by some unknown person. They could not have seen who the person was because the area was dark. But this happened across the river on a farm where at this time no one is living in that location.”

Rodriguez claimed that a second man, twenty-two year old Rudy Leonel Salazar, was shot in the neck and fell into the Mopan River. Police searched on Monday, but found no sign of Salazar.

Insp. Stanley Bodden

“We cannot confirm that any other person got shot because we didn’t find any body and no other person has come forward at this time. If you take a look in the area the river is very high and was running, and it is still running at this time, so we cannot confirm that yes that did happen.”

For confirmation, the Benque Police are trying to get a statement from the third man, identified only by the nickname ‘Kocha Blanca.’

Insp. Stanley Bodden

“The third person went back to Guatemala and informed the family members as to what transpired. Efforts have been made with our Guatemalan counterparts to try to get this person to try to get in to give a statement so we can clear up what transpired.”

Reporter

“How have those efforts been going?”

Insp. Stanley Bodden

“So far they indicated that they would have tried to get the other young man today. Up to this time he has not been brought to the border or to the Benque Viejo Police Station.”

That brings us to the gunman. Police have found no expended shells. Rodriguez, who up to this morning was at the San Ignacio Hospital under Police Guard, claims that they couldn’t see the shooter because it was too dark. Police have not found anything on the scene to assist them in the investigation.

Insp. Stanley Bodden

“Upon visiting the scene yesterday morning because the area was dark and we had to do our investigation in daylight, the officer came across I think it was two or three fishing lines, some clothing and there was an area where some bloodstains were. That was along with a small amount of cannabis. That is what was found in the area.”

Because the incident occurred within our territory, the Benque Police are obligated to investigate. But there is precious little to investigate, and nobody to provide much information….so it is likely that this case will die a natural death. Mike Rudon for News Five.

Late this morning, Rodriguez was discharged from the hospital and escorted to the border where he was handed over to Belizean immigration officials. It is believed that he will be escorted across the border and released. Police sources tell us that before being released he told them that he believes the trio was fired upon by somebody who followed them across the border from Castrillo de Suchitan. B.D.F. personnel tell us the small barrio is a gang stronghold, so that seems like a likely story.