by Charles Gladden

COROZAL, Thurs. May 4, 2023

A man, who is yet to be identified, perished in the New River near the Pueblo Nuevo Ferry on the Corozal-Progresso Road in Northern Belize after he was allegedly injured during a shootout on Thursday, May 4.

Preliminary reports suggest that at around 1:30 p.m., a Ford Escape vehicle was pursuing a GMC Terrain, and the GMC jumped the line at the ferry and attempted to make a U-turn when the driver realized that the ferry was on the other side.

Two masked male persons then exited the Ford Escape carrying high-powered rifles and began shooting at two people in the GMC.

According to witnesses, there was a lot of gunfire, during which a passenger of the GMC exited the vehicle and jumped into the river and attempted to swim across to the other side for safety.

Shots were reportedly fired at the individual, and while it is yet to be confirmed, witnesses claim that the individual was injured due to those shots, and he subsequently sank in the river and perished.

Both vehicles left the scene and while en route to Orange Walk Town via the San Estevan Road, they were stopped by police officers who had placed a checkpoint on the road. It has been confirmed that the driver of the GMC Terrain was detained.

The body of the deceased was recovered by the Belize Coast Guard at around 3:25 p.m., but the exact cause of death has not yet been determined.

Some media are saying that the deceased is a well-known person who had previous attempts made on his life in the Corozal District.