Police have confirmed the capture of Eric Orlando Gonzalez, 18, of Orange Walk Town, in Mexico over the weekend.
Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries and Orange Walk police separately confirmed what is now the fourth capture of a member of the inaugural Ten Most Wanted List released in June. The three previous captures were of Arthur Young, Leon Williams and most recently, Julio Martinez.
According to Commissioner Jeffries, police have no further information beyond what has already been reported in other sections of the press.
Amandala has learned that Mexican police detained Gonzalez and several other individuals at the scene of a fight in a Mexican village in Quintana Roo State around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. He was turned over to Mexican immigration after the officers who detained him reportedly recognized him from a wanted poster circulated by Belize police. He should be returned to Belize later this week.
Gonzalez is wanted for the stabbing murder of Daniel Soto, 16, of Orange Walk Town in February. The two youth were hanging out on Mangal Street, Louisiana area, Orange Walk, on the night of February 26 when an argument erupted between them. Gonzalez left the area to get a kitchen knife, which he used to stab Soto in the leg. Soto died en route to the Northern Regional Hospital.
And in an update to the capture of Julio Martinez last week, police say Martinez, in addition to being a suspect in the murder of Manuel Salazar in Chan Pine Ridge in March, escaped from police custody on March 23 of this year while on his way to Magistrate’s Court for sentencing on the charges of robbery, wounding, and using threatening words.
Martinez has since been formally charged for escape. He pleaded guilty to his previous charges and has been sentenced.