Photo: (l-r top row) Osmar Chiac and Twyford Smith;
(l-r bottom row) Austin Conorquie, charged with murder; Hugo Rodriguez, deceased

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Dec. 20, 2023

Three Carmelita men are facing charges in connection with the death of 45-year-old construction worker, Hugo Rodriguez, of the same village, who was gunned down at the entrance of his yard on Sunday, December 17.

According to reports, shortly before 8:30 p.m. that Sunday, Rodriguez visited a nearby store (not too far from his home), and while at the store he was confronted by three men.

Rodriguez seemingly tried to avoid the conflict by walking away, but it is believed that he was followed by two of the men from the store on bicycles, because as soon as he entered the yard of his residence, they fired multiple gunshots at him that caused his death. Rodriguez was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Belize Police Department announced on Tuesday, December 19, that they have arrested and charged three men in connection with Rodriguez’s death: 19-year-old Osmar Chiac, 21-year-old Twyford Smith, and 24-year-old Austin Conorquie, all construction workers, who have been jointly charged with murder.

The three men were arraigned in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court the following day. No plea was taken from them; neither were they offered bail. They were then remanded to the Belize Central Prison.

They are scheduled to return to court on April 18, 2024.

Police found six expended shells and one bullet slug at the scene, but a motive for the murder has yet to be established.