Police Officer Fires at Gunman Who Attempted to Kill a Belize City Resident

Police say neither they nor Matthew Smith know why he was shot on Tuesday night at the corner of Johnson Street and Cemetery Road. On Wednesday we told you that Smith was buying food when a man rode up and pointed a gun in his direction and fired shots. One of the bullets caught him the upper arm. A police officer was on the scene and he withdrew his firearm and fired shots at the assailant. Those bullets may have chased him off because he escaped and police say they don’t have a suspect at this time. They also told the media that Smith doesn’t appear to have any gang affiliations so they can’t link this crime to gang rivalry. ASP Alejandro Cowo shares more about Tuesday night’s shooting.

Alejandro Cowo

ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City

“Police responded to shots being fired somewhere on Johnson Street. As a result, upon police visiting that location they observed a male person who identified himself as Mathew Smith, thirty years old Belizean of Johnson Street. He was observed suffering from apparent gunshot wound to the right side of the shoulder. What he indicated to the police, he was at the Fiber’s Restaurant located on Cemetery Road purchasing some food when he observed two males persons coming from Johnson towards Cemetery Road. One of them pulled out a firearm and pointed it at his direction and fired several shots at him. Corporal Keith Cruz who was also at the Fiber’s Restaurant purchasing food saw what was happening and pulled out his licensed firearm and fired two shots at the male person who then ran away from the scene. Mr. Mathew Smith was admitted, treated and discharged on the following day. Police at the scene found six point forty five expended shells and two point nine millimeter expended shells. So far no one has been detained for this incident. The police’s primary function is the protection of life and property so in the event that he is present when anything is happening, he has the right to defend anybody and the right to defend himself. And if any injuries or damages are caused to any person it is a situation that we have to deal with likewise. But remember the primary function is to protect life and property.”