Police Shot Alleged Thief in Belize City

Last week, we told you about a shooting incident involving a police officer and a Belize City resident. As we reported, twenty-two-year-old Rondane Swaso, a call center employee, was shot once to the chest by a police officer. The incident took place on Euphrates Avenue last Thursday night. Swaso’s girlfriend claimed that he was on his way home from work when he was shot. But, today Commissioner of Police Chester Williams gave a different account of what transpired.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“In respect to the matter of the shooting involving Mr. Swaso last week, from what I have been briefed is that there was a report of some stolen item that was being advertised for sale on social media. The owner of the items saw the item and recognized it to be his, and, based on that made some arrangement to purchase the item. Upon doing so he solicited the assistance of police officers to be in the area and they went somewhere along the East Canal area where they met the individual who had the stolen item with him. The police moved to arrest the young man who had the item. Upon doing so he had a brief struggle with the police and he managed to escape. This led to a pursuit within Belize City. That pursuit led them to an abandoned lot on Euphrates Avenue near the basketball court. At this time, it was already in the dark of night. One of the officers who did the pursuit was in the back of the yard and made a call to 911 to seek assistance. Upon doing so he young man Swaso came from an area and accosted the police. A struggle ensued for the officer’s weapon during which the officer was able to fire one shot which caused Swaso in the right chest region. The bullet exited the back. He was taken to the K.H.M.H. where he is currently admitted in a stable condition. Professional Standard Branch is doing the internal aspect of the investigation and one of the things we are looking at is our pursuit police, whether or not the officer complied with or pursuit police. I can say at this time it would appear so. One cannot expect that the officer would have waited for the young man to have taken away his gun before doing something.”