A prison inmate who tried to escape from the Belize Central Prison was shot in the buttocks by vigilant prison officers.

Marcos Gomez of Trial Farm, Orange Walk, who is serving a 12-month sentence for theft, is now recovering at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. yesterday morning, Monday.

Chief Executive Officer at the Kolbe Foundation, Earl Jones, told reporters that at about 10:15 a.m. yesterday morning, inmate Marcus Gomez attempted to escape from the Belize Central Prison. Prison officers who saw what was happening quickly reacted and shot the escaping prisoner in the buttocks. Gomez was taken to the medical unit at the facility, after which he was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for further treatment.

He is now under police custody in the hospital, after which he will be returned to his cell at the Belize Central Prison.

Gomez will be additionally charged with escape from custody, which will result in additional jail time for him.