Belize: Two men shot during altercation in San Pedro

Belize: Two men were shot and wounded on Sunday morning in San Pedro Town after a confrontation among some people.

According to the Belize Police Department, the incident took place at Lion Street around 1:45 am. Police arrived at the location and spoke with 29-year-old mechanic, Francisco Daniel Nah, who was at a store when two golf carts arrived.

Preliminary investigations confirmed that the male occupants of the golf carts got into a verbal argument. Bottles were reportedly thrown by the men during the confrontation.

Nah told the investigating officers that one of the men approached him and reached towards his waist. He assumed that it was a gun and feared that his life was in danger.

Nah has been legally permitted to carry a 9mm firearm. He told the investigators that he fired three shots on the ground after the man started reaching for his waist. The occupants of the golf carts soon left the scene.

Later that day, 20-year-old Rennel Aguilar and 19-year-old Edwin Barco went to the police at around 1:30 pm. They told the officers that they were injured by gunshots earlier during the altercation.

Both men were taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Police have not yet disclosed the severity of their injuries.

It has not yet been determined whether Aguilar and Barco were injured due to the gunshots fired from Nah's licensed gun. Officers are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and what led to the two men being shot.

No further details have been released as of now. The investigation into the shooting and altercation remains active.

Belize has a national Level 2 advisory (Exercise Increased Caution) by the United States State Department due to increased crime. Its crime index is around 51.8, showing a slow decrease. Though urban gang violence is a problem affecting local areas, tourist hot spots experience low rates of violent crimes.