BELIZE CITY, Fri. Feb. 5, 2021– The Belize Police Department is currently investigating the alleged shooting of an elderly man by police officers last Friday evening at the corner of Lakeview and Banak Streets in Belize City. A 67-year-old man identified as Lionel Arnold, Sr., was shot in the right thigh after he confronted police on behalf of his son, who was being searched by the officers.

Senior Superintendent Dwayne Sutherland reported that officers were on patrol in the area and conducted a routine stop and search on two individuals. A struggle ensued between one of the persons, Lionel Arnold, Jr., and an officer, and shortly after, Arnold’s father became involved.

Senior Superintendent Sutherland, who is also head of the Professional Standards Branch, reported that one of the officers then proceeded to draw his pistol and fire a single round that wounded the elderly man. He was subsequently taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where he remains hospitalized in a stable condition.

According to reports from his family, the gunshot wound ruptured Arnold’s main artery. In an interview with his daughter she shared, “the doctor they say if it was the different direction maybe he would have been a dead man, maybe he would not have had his foot because it would have broken up his bones and he would have had to cut off his foot.”

As mentioned, police continue to investigate this incident. At the time of the interview, no reports were yet officially made by the shooting victim or his son. Police will determine if excessive force was used by the officer.