Valentin Conservation Post Shooting Investigation Rules Out Attack By Guatemalan
Brigadier General Azariel Loria
Tonight, the Belize Defense Force soldier that was shot in the buttocks at the Valentin Conservation Post back in November is recovering at Price Barracks. Investigators are still trying to gather information as to the origin of the bullet that is still lodged inside the soldier. The latest information coming out of that investigation is that the shot was not fired by a Guatemalan. According to Brigadier General Azariel Loria, the Commander of the B.D.F., forensics has revealed that whoever shot the soldier did so at close range.
Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.
“The bullet, we don’t know what caliber it is. It is lodged still inside his body. Unfortunately it could not be extracted because it fragmented inside him. The bullet or the round as we call it, pierced through his buttocks and ended in the pelvic bone where the round itself fragmented. That, from what I got from the doctors, it will not be possible to extract all the little bits and pieces from inside him.”
Reporter
“Will that hinder the investigation in terms of determining where it actually came from, and did you recovery any expended shells?”
Brigadier General Azariel Loria
“We did not recover any expended shell, but the investigation continues. We are getting more from the Forensics Department to continue with that investigation to determine the proximity of the shot and other factors. But the investigation will continue and we want to get to the bottom of it because we need to know what really happened. It is still uncertain. The investigation is not a hundred percent complete.”
Reporter
“So, in a case like this, has the OAS taken any interest in participating or to learn what happened?”
Brigadier General Azariel Loria
“This incident happened along the border. Usually we would notify the Organization of American States. But, from our investigation it was not necessary to do so because the investigation is pointing out that there was no Guatemalans in the area and if they were they were far away and the forensics, ballistics, is pointing that due to the nature of the wound the soldier was bleeding profusely that it was a close range that he was shot at, or a negligent discharge. We have to zero in to what actually happened. We are doing that now.”
