by Khaila Gentle

SAN IGNACIO TOWN, Cayo District, Wed. Sept. 21, 2022

Wednesday’s Independence Day celebration in Cayo was marred by a fatal stabbing that left one man lying dead in the Savannah Street area of San Ignacio Town in the late evening. The victim, Matthew M. Smith, was found stabbed to death shortly after the Independence Day Citizens’ Parade in San Ignacio Town.

According to police reports, sometime after 7:00 p.m., Smith, 29, was found lying on the ground with several stab wounds to his upper body. He was immediately rushed to the San Ignacio Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Smith is believed to be from Belize City. He was identified using a driver’s license found in a pocket of his pants, and on that license his address was listed as #57 Plues Street.

So far, police investigations have revealed that Smith had been involved in a fight with a group of men during an event at the Macal Park. Apparently, on the previous day, September 20, those men who inflicted his injuries had been involved in a prior altercation, which took place in San Ignacio as well.

It is believed that upon seeing Smith at Macal Park, along with another male person who had been involved in the previous altercation, one of the men stabbed Smith.

According to Police Communications Director, ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, while there were over thirty police officers on duty during the event at the Macal Park, the size of the crowd may have prevented the officers from seeing the fight which led to the stabbing. Police have since detained two men in connection with the stabbing incident, and an investigation is ongoing.

We will continue to follow this story for any further developments.