_{Photo: Louis Siapas, deceased}

by Kristen Ku

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Mar. 14, 2024

On March 14, the La Rumba Restaurant and Bar, located in St. Margaret’s Village, Mile 32 on the Hummingbird Highway, became the scene of a violent attack that left 40-year-old Louis Siapas dead.

According to reports, police were called to the establishment around 2:10 a.m., where they discovered Siapas’ lifeless body on the floor, bearing severe chop wounds.

The assault reportedly took place around midnight when three individuals entered the bar, and one of them unleashed a machete attack on Siapas, targeting his head, face, throat, and both hands.

Shortly after, Siapas’ family was informed of his injuries through a neighbour.

“At around 1:30 a.m., my neighbour told us that he had heard that my husband had been attacked and wounded in that restaurant,” Siapas’ widow told reporters. “When my oldest son got there, he was still alive.”

The severity of the wounds left Siapas motionless on the floor, leading to his body being transported to the Western Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Siapas’ wife said her husband was at the establishment unaccompanied, and that he was simply engaging in conversation with a lady at the bar when the altercation started.

With no known motive behind the attack, police investigations continue.