ORANGE WALK TOWN, Orange Walk District, Thurs. July 12, 2018– At around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday night, police visited the Northern Regional Hospital, where they saw the body of Alberto Vargas, Jr., 21, with two gunshot wounds in the neck.

According to initial reports, Vargas, who was a shop assistant, was in a green Ford Escape on the Belize Corozal Road with his friend, Jose Medina, the driver of the vehicle. They then picked up another man, who sat in the back seat, behind Vargas. It is not known if the passenger was known to Medina or Vargas.

Medina then stopped the car in front of Landy’s and Sons in order for him to get some food at a nearby tacos stall.

According to police, Medina got out of the car to order the food. Medina then heard a commotion from the car, along with some gunshots. When he went back to the vehicle, the gunman had escaped on foot, and Vargas was left bleeding in the car.

Medina rushed Vargas to the hospital, where he died shortly after.

During an investigation into the shooting, police found 4 expended shells in the back of the car. Today, police arrested and charged construction worker Nisani Garcia, 24, for Vargas’ murder.

Last year, Vargas and Medina, along with one other man, Junior Triminio, were caught by police in Trial Farm with about ten pounds of marijuana. They were charged with possession of a controlled drug with the intent to supply.