Keyren Tzib Charged For Shooting Senior Officer

Keyren Tzib

On Easter Monday, at the end of a joint maritime operation of Belize’s armed forces, twenty-four year old Coast Guard Seaman Keyren Tzib approached the vessel’s captain, thirty-seven year old Kurt Hyde and shot him in the face with her M-four assault rifle. Police investigators say she never uttered a word before she fired that single shot. Hyde was badly injured and rushed to the K.H.M.H. where he is listed in a critical but stable condition. So what could possibly have triggered the unexpected attack? Today, even as Tzib was formally arraigned for attempted murder, investigators and Coast Guard personnel try to put together the pieces of this disturbing puzzle. Mike Rudon has that story. 

Mike Rudon, Reporting

This is the Coast Guard vessel which held operatives from the Police, Port Authority, B.D.F. and Coast Guard. Just before ten am as they returned to base from San Pedro, just one hundred yards from shore, Keyren Tzib allegedly turned to the Captain, Petty Officer First Class Kurt Hyde and shot him in the face.

Hilberto Romero

Supt. Hilberto Romero, Head, Crimes Investigation Branch

“Police personnel visited the Coast Guard base where they saw some blood inside a vessel. Investigation revealed that Kurt Hyde had been shot to the left side of the face. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. An investigation was conducted into that matter. Several statements were recorded, tests were done, and at the conclusion of that investigation Keyren Tzib, member of the Coast Guard, was arrested and charged for the crimes of attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm.”

This afternoon at around three, Keyren Tzib was escorted to Magistrate’s Court where she was formally arraigned before being remanded to the Belize Central Prison to await an application for bail at the Supreme Court.

Audrey Matura

Audrey Matura, Attorney for Keyren Tzib

“It’s just the normal process that since she has been given her charge sheet, that she was brought to Court and arraigned before the Chief Magistrate and given her return date to come to Court. Because these are indictable matters – even the two minor matters will be charged on indictment – then a plea wasn’t really taken.”

The legal proceeding aside, investigators are now tasked with finding a motive behind the shooting which clearly could have ended the life of Kurt Hyde. Rumours and speculation have been rampant, but the Police are looking for facts, and so far they are drawing a blank.

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Investigations show that they were returning from a mission in San Pedro. Thereafter investigations revealed that she pointed her weapon at the other officer and fired one single shot.”

Reporter

“But had there been any altercation prior to that?”

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“We know of no altercation they had prior to that incident.”

Reporter

“Any motive?”

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“We have not established a clear motive at this time and we are continuing with the investigation at this time.”

Audrey Matura

“I will not give the details of anything that happened, but I am most disappointed that people have been casting aspersions and saying mean things. There’s a lot more maybe to the case, or maybe there’s not, but it’s most unfortunate that it seems that the case has been tried on Facebook by some people. I think it’s an indication of the little respect we have for our judicial system, and also the little respect we show for women. I won’t even repeat some of the things I understand have been posted but I’ll just say that people should take a time and step back and reflect. It’s a serious offence that she’s been charged with, and whatever allegations are being said, they’re all serious matters to be dealt with. The Coast Guard especially needs to answer a lot of the questions since I understand that a lot of the information has been leaked through them. They have a lot to answer to.”

Keyren Tzib

Keyren Tzib became a member of the Belize Coast Guard in 2009. Back then she told us how happy she was to be a part of a family, a member of a team. But somewhere between then and today, something went dreadfully wrong, something which caused this young woman to snap.

Audrey Matura

“As anybody would be in such a situation…she’s frightened, shocked and trying to cope with whatever is happening.”

We tried to speak to Hyde’s family but they refused comment. We have been able to confirm that the bullet entered the left side of his face and exited his mouth. He is expected to recover. Mike Rudon for News Five.

News Five has received credible information that Tzib had been taken before a medical board for allegedly displaying unstable behaviour, but was declared fit to serve. She is to return to Court on July second.