Photo: Denver Montero, deceased

by Charles Gladden

GRACIE ROCK, Belize District, Mon. Apr. 3, 2023

A group of twelve persons, several of whom are minors, were captured by police after they allegedly were involved in a robbery of a number of persons who were swimming in Gracie Rock Village, Belize District, during which one of the victims—Denver Montero, 26, a mechanic of Hattieville—was killed and another man was injured

According to police, at about 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, Montero and Ryan Kerr of Gracie Rock were swimming at a popular swimming spot in the village along with a number of other persons when a grey 2006 Dodge Caravan stopped near that spot and the occupants of the vehicle proceeded to rob them of their belongings.

It has been reported that one of the men was armed, and that he used the firearm to wound Kerr and Montero during the robbery, before the group escaped by jumping into the van and fleeing the scene.

However, the robbers were captured by authorities between Miles 14 and 15 on the George Price Highway in Hattieville, and the items that were stolen were recovered.

When police arrived at the scene in Gracie Rock, they saw Montero’s lifeless body lying face-up with chop and gunshot injuries along with Kerr, and both men were transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director for the Belize Police Department, told reporters during a press briefing that the details of the robbery-turned-murder are yet to be ascertained, as the investigation is in its preliminary stages.

While the identities of the perpetrators have yet to be revealed to the public, there are reports that 5 minors were involved in the crime, with the youngest being 12 years old. Also, two of the robbers were 18-years old, while the others were in their early 20’s, excluding the driver, who was 35-years old.

The robbers were held in police custody at the Hattieville and Ladyville Police Stations.