BELIZE CITY, Mon. Dec. 21, 2020– Malik Acosta, 32, a car dealer of Tigris Street, was shot and killed on Sunday night while driving a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Belize City.
At around 6:35 p.m., police visited L&F Chinese Fast Food located on Douglas Jones Street, where they found a red SUV that had crashed into the fast food business. In the driver’s seat, they found Acosta suffering from multiple gunshot injuries.
An initial investigation by police revealed that at about 6:25 p.m., Acosta was driving on West Street, heading towards Water Lane, and when he neared the corner, an unknown gunman approached him and fired several shots at him.
An injured Acosta managed to drive onto Water Lane, where the SUV hit George Evan Lewis, 56, a fireman of Orange Street, who suffered a broken leg as a result. He then drove into Vernon Street, where he collided with a red Mazda Tribute that was parked in front of Asia Restaurant.
Acosta continued driving on Vernon Street into Youth For the Future Drive, and then onto Douglas Jones Street, where he crashed into L & F Chinese Fast Food Restaurant.
Acosta would not make it alive to the trauma room of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). He died while being transported there.
George Evan Lewis, the injured fireman, was admitted to ward at the KHMH in a stable condition.
Police say this murder is a case of opportunity, where the gunman saw Acosta, who is alleged to have gang ties, in the rival area, and capitalized on the opportunity. It is believed that Acosta was affiliated with known gang members, hence the reason he was targeted.
Two suspects are being sought.
Less than half an hour later, at 6:55 p.m., shots were heard on Antelope Street Extension. CIB personnel from Precinct 2 visited the location and found Karen Pinto, 28, a domestic of Antelope Street Extension, suffering from a gunshot injury to the left leg.
According to preliminary reports, Pinto and an unnamed individual were walking on a makeshift bridge when two men approached and fired shots in their direction.
Police believe Pinto’s acquaintance was the intended target. She was taken to the KHMH for treatment and was admitted to ward in a stable condition.