Christian Espat arraigned for weekend shooting

As police were announcing the arrest of twenty-one-year-old Christian Espat on Monday evening for charges of attempted murder, deadly means of harm and dangerous harm for a shooting incident on Ambergris Caye over the weekend, he was being brought to Belize City and arraigned even before getting to speak with attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley.  Espat was read his charges before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza for injuries to two primary school students – twelve-year-old Armando Hernandez and nine-year-old Jaheem Martinez, along with twenty-seven year old Lloyd Tyndall. Police say a single armed gunman opened fire in the area of the Easy Does It woodwork shop establishment in San Pedrito subdivision, wounding the boys and Tyndall, who sustained gunshot injuries to the abdomen and left leg. Espat was remanded to the Central Prison until November fourteenth, 2017, but his next court appearance will be in San Pedro Town; the quick arraignment was due to lack of a magistrate on the island. According to Bradley, he will make an application for bail for Espat as early as this coming Friday, August eighteenth.