By Aaron Humes: Police overnight announced the arrest of 25-year-old Keron George Augustine, a Belizean barber from Seine Bight Village, Stann Creek District, for two counts of murder. Augustine is currently in custody as the investigation continues into how two men lost their lives in a shooting at Queen and Jose Maria Nunez Streets in Punta Gorda Town on Saturday night.
Police were alerted to the shooting at approximately 8:10 p.m. and arrived to find Derrick Arnold, 43, suffering from serious gunshot wounds. The body of 40-year-old Luis Barillas was also discovered at the scene, having succumbed to similar injuries. Both victims were immediately taken to the hospital, where Arnold later died from his wounds.
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith detailed on Monday how the men were literally called to their deaths: “Preliminary investigation indicates that Arnold and Barillas were at the rear of Barillas’ residence when a male person is reported to have gone to that location and called out for Barillas. Barillas and Arnold went to the front of the residence, and that is when they were met with gunfire.”
As of Monday afternoon, police had detained three individuals in connection with the case and indicated further charges may be forthcoming based on investigative leads. They are exploring several potential motives, including possible links to recent anti-drug operations conducted in the vicinity, per ASP Smith: “I know that area [where] Barillas resides, we have conducted anti-drug operations just next to it and recovered quite [an amount] of drugs and firearms.”
The investigation has also prompted questions regarding a separate case involving a missing Canadian national. ASP Smith stated that while one of the deceased was a person of interest in that disappearance, ongoing investigations suggest that the two incidents are not directly connected.
The post Suspect arrested after double murder in Punta Gorda Town appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Aaron Humes: Police overnight announced the arrest of 25-year-old Keron George Augustine, a Belizean barber from Seine Bight Village, Stann Creek District, for two counts of murder. Augustine is currently in custody as the investigation continues into how two men lost their lives in a shooting at Queen and Jose Maria Nunez Streets in
The post Suspect arrested after double murder in Punta Gorda Town appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
