Gun violence in Belize: Teenager shot dead in broad daylight to make a "statement"

A shooting incident in Belize left a 15-year-old boy dead on New Road on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred in a busy market in broad daylight.

The deceased was identified as Dwayne Gabourel. His mother, Rhondine Almendarez, told the media that her son went out to get bread. She said when she heard shots, she rushed down, and people told her son was killed.

Almendarez rushed to see, where she noticed her son was not breathing. Police officials, along with Gabourel's mother, took him to the hospital, where he was declared dead.

She said that her son was very smart and a peacemaker who was afraid of the rising gun violence in the country.

Police Commissioner Chester Williams says it was not a case of mistaken identity; he believes that fifteen-year-old Dwayne Gabourel was used to make a statement. He said there is one particular suspect that the police are seeking. Indications are, however, that the shooter has gone into hiding. He said various surveillance footage had been recovered by the police to identify the attacker.

Williams also expressed concerns about the increase in such incidents and said the police department is working to reduce the violence. He assured the mother of the deceased that the police would bring justice to her son.