SAN PEDRO, Ambergris Caye, Thurs. May 2, 2019– A 19-year-old resident of Belize City, Brandon Humes, was found dead in a chair in an apartment located on the second flat of a building on Coconut Drive in San Pedro at about 9:00 this morning. Humes, an employee of CISCO Construction Company of Belize City, was found sitting on the chair with 9 gunshot wounds on his body. He was taken to the San Pedro Polyclinic, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Police say that Humes had one gunshot wound in the left side of his head, one in his lower back, one in the left side of the ribcage, three in his upper left arm, one in his lower left arm, and two in the left side of the chest.

Police detectives say they are looking for several suspects in connection with this murder, which they believe is due to a drug deal gone wrong. Police say footage from security cameras mounted in the area were viewed and they saw some men identified to be known drug dealers of the town running out of the apartment. The men were reportedly seen running to the north and to the south of the town. Police said the suspects will be detained as the investigation progresses.

A man from San Pedro, Jose Flores, told police that at about 8:00 this morning a woman who is known to him and a man whom he does not know, went to his apartment, and he (Flores) and the woman left, leaving the man (Humes) in the apartment. Sometime after, Flores said that he was told that there had been a shooting at his apartment. When they went back to the apartment, they found Humes with multiple gunshot wounds.

Brandon Humes is associated with a gang from the south side of Belize City, and police are concerned that there may be retaliation for his death. Police said that they have stepped up patrols and efforts in certain areas of Belize City, to contain any retaliation that may occur.