5 Murders in 2 Days; Murder Spiking in Belize?

Kareem Musa

As we’ve reported, there were five persons murdered in two days in the Belize District – in San Pedro and in Hattieville. But are the triple and double murders, although unrelated, an indication that the intensity of murders is returning?  Minister of Home Affairs Kareem says that these are isolated incidents that are not gang-related so no retaliation is expected.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“I think the intensity of the murders that we used to have were primarily based in Belize City and were gang-related. If you look at the three incidents that occurred; in one in Belize City, the gentleman lost his life as a result of an argument with another individual and that does not seem gang-related and should not, technically speaking, result in any retaliation. And then of course the very unfortunate tragic murder in San Pedro, the triple murder that has been determined to be drug-related and then finally the one in Hattieville, also a very heinous crime that one was determined to be robbery. And so, we do not anticipate that there will be retaliations. Of course when you do have gang-related murders within Belize City, there tends to be a flare up or a wave of crime that follows that. And so, we are, of course monitoring all three of these issues very closely. The police have been very active and it is hope not just that we make arrests in the San Pedro triple murder, but also the one for Hattieville as well. Like I mentioned yesterday, there are two suspects that are being sought by the police.”