City Resident Gunned Down Over Money Beef

Anthony Gillett

There was a murder on Friday night in Belize City. Thirty-eight year old Anthony Gillett was killed at his home on West Collet Canal by a man sources claim was a friend. Police acted quickly to take the suspect, Ryan Barnett, into custody and he was arraigned this morning in Belize City. So why did Barnett turn on his friend? News Five’s Mike Rudon went looking for answers this morning.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

At around eleven Friday night Anthony Gillett, thirty-eight, was sitting on this chair in the yard of his home on West Collet Canal. That’s when one gunman, unmasked and in no hurry, entered the front gate, walked up to him and fired one shot. The bullet entered Gillett’s chin and exited the front of his head. When Police arrived shortly after that is where they found the mortally wounded man, lying on the chair.

Chester Williams

ACP Chester Williams, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“Last night sometime after nine or ten, thereabouts, Police received information about shots being fired at the corner of Young Street and East Collet Canal. Upon arriving there they met one Anthony Gillett who at the time was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was subsequently transported to the KHMH where he was admitted and subsequently he died shortly thereafter or upon arrival at the hospital.”

Gillett knew his killer well. In fact, the two men used to hang out at the same spot where friend would turn murderer.

Ryan Barnett

ACP Chester Williams

“Our investigation into that matter so far has led us to the detention of one Ryan Barnett who is being charged as we speak for the crime of Murder. From what we have been made to understand it is not gang related. The victim and the suspect knew each other and apparently the suspect went to visit with the victim and I don’t know what transpired between the two of them but within that process the suspect fired the shots on the victim resulting in his death.”

Residents at the home would not speak to us because they are afraid. We are told that they have already received death threats from elements of the George Street Gang with whom Barnett is supposedly affiliated. We’re also told that the beef was over money which Gillett owed to Barnett and which Barnett had been trying to collect for days. This morning Barnett, no stranger to Police, was arraigned on the charge of murder and remanded to the Belize Central Prison. Mike Rudon for News Five.