BELIZE CITY, Sun. Oct. 17, 2021– On Sunday, October 17, a shooting incident at the corner of Peter Seco Street and Tranquil Lane in Belize City claimed the life of a 31-year-old resident of Independence Village.
Initial reports are indicating that Ian Westby, 31, had gone to visit an uncle of his at his business establishment on Consuelo Street in Belize City. Sometime around 10:00 a.m. that day, he walked off the premises and headed in the direction of another man who had entered the area, and the two men purportedly got into a vehicle.
Shortly after the vehicle sped off, gunshots were heard in the area. A passerby also alerted Westby’s uncle that his nephew was reportedly seen slouched over the driver’s seat of a vehicle. Westby’s uncle reportedly rushed outside to investigate the situation and found his unconscious nephew with a gunshot wound in the chest.
Westby was immediately rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital to receive treatment, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police continue to investigate the shooting.
The police are seeking one person of interest —- the very person who was last seen with Westby, since an initial review of the circumstances surrounding the shooting suggests he may have been the assailant. Since no one else was in the area at the time of the shooting, Westby is believed to be the intended target. The Police Department has not yet determined the motive for the shooting and is uncertain if Westby was involved in any illicit activities.
Police investigators are currently interviewing a number of persons to help fill in the gaps in their understanding of what occurred.