Belize City Business Man Gunned Down in Front His Apartment

Ricardo Borja

A Belize City resident was ambushed and killed on Saturday night in front of his apartment. Reports are that just after eleven-thirty, twenty-eight-year-old Ricardo Borja was inside his white Nissan pickup, when a lone gunman approached and opened fire in his direction. Borja had just returned to the apartment from a night out in the city. Police are now questioning who would want the businessman dead. His family members are also still in shock. Borja was also a longstanding volunteer with the Belize Red Cross Society. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Twenty-eight-year-old Ricardo Borja was parked in front of his Belize City apartment inside a white Nissan pickup truck when a gunman ambushed him. According to police, Borja had just arrived at the apartment along with twenty-three-year-old Jean Reyes.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Based on information, one Ricardo Borja drove to his apartment on a road off Coney Drive when sometime after eleven p.m. on Saturday night and upon entering the yard and brining the vehicle to a stop, multiple shots were fired at the vehicle. At the time, Ricardo was in the company of a female who we believe is his girlfriend. She sustained one graze and was treated and released.”

Borja was a well-known businessman in Belize City. He owned Phoenix Boutique and also operated a consultancy business. Police are trying to determine whether his murder stems from any of his business dealings.

Chester Williams

“We are getting several information that are negative towards him, in terms of his involvement with different activities but I am not going to get into those. But, yes it could be that it was one of those that may have led to his death, so we are looking at every angle that we can pursue in respect to this matter.”

Notwithstanding the unfavorable reports that the Commissioner of Police says investigators are receiving about Borja, his colleagues at the Belize Red Cross tell a different story about him. He had served with the organization for more than a decade.

Terrence Woodeye

Terrence Woodeye, Instructor/Trainer, Belize Red Cross Society

“He was always willing, always a dedicated volunteer, as a matter of fact he had said that Red Cross practically raised him. He was always here. He started out as a youth volunteer and he worked his way up until he became a youth leader. He was always active with the youths and whenever it was time for field work, during disaster, he was always there on the field, assisting doing relief supplies and taking assessments.”

In the aftermath of Hurricane Lisa back in November 2022, Borja was among the Red Cross volunteers responsible for the distribution of relief supplies to affected communities.

Ricardo Borja

Ricardo Borja, Murder Victim

“Part of my teenage life was being part of the Red Cross, being in training, going to the first aid stuff, going to the parades and drives. That was my life. My friends were and are from the Belize Red Cross Volunteers group.”

But, we also spoke with a close friend of Ricardo Borja and his family, Jacqueline Hernandez. We asked Hernandez if she thinks the speculations of wrongdoing being investigated by police hold any weight. Here is what Hernandez told us.

Jacqueline Hernandez

Jacqueline Hernandez, Family Friend of Murder Victim 

“At this time the information that has been passed from the police force to us is very minimal. We know what had happened of course with the shooting, he was fatally wounded. As family and his friends we know him to be the most loving, outgoing person. In terms of the speculations to address, nothing is confirmed. We know that he was very outgoing, very aggressive businessman, very dedicated businessman, successful in everything he did. His endeavors was always with cause, with reason, valuable to any business he encountered and partnered with. So, in terms of the speculations that is all they are. We have no idea as to who would want to do something like that to our friend and family member.”

Borja was also the holder of two gun licenses. In 2016, he was accused of criminal fraud. His employer alleged that he dishonestly appropriated six thousand dollars. Given those past accusation, ComPol Williams was asked why these gun licenses were issued to Borja.

Chester Williams

“He did apply for a gun license and I can tell you I was the one who approved those gun licenses. He was able to provide all the requisite and proof that he owned a business and was generating funds, so he would have fallen into the category of those persons. There are many person who have been accused of committing a crime, they were accused and they do get gun license.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.