Posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2025. 11:11 am CST.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: What began as a family dispute exploded into a chaotic street fight involving a machete and gunfire on Tuesday night, May 20, outside a family residence at #89 Freetown Road, prompting police to intervene and resulting in five people being charged.
According to police, around 7:30 p.m., officers responded to reports of a brawl in progress. Upon arrival, they found two women engaged in a violent physical fight that escalated when one of the women—later identified as Lorna Garnett, 36, a domestic of Santa Barbara Street—allegedly pulled a machete and advanced toward her opponent.
Despite verbal commands to drop the weapon, Garnett allegedly continued advancing, forcing police to fire two warning shots into the air to prevent a potentially deadly attack. The machete was eventually dropped, and both women—bleeding from head injuries—were taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) for treatment before being escorted to court for arraignment.
Garnett was charged with disorderly conduct, to which she pleaded guilty before Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers, who fined her $300 plus $5 in costs, payable forthwith or one month imprisonment. Garnett paid the fine immediately. In light of her plea, the same charge against her cousin’s girlfriend, Brenda Arnold, 24, was withdrawn.
However, Arnold—who denied involvement in the machete incident—faced a second charge of harm after Deandra Medwood, 18, accused her of assault during the altercation. Medwood alleged that Arnold attacked her while she was holding a toddler, blocked her from entering the family yard, and violently assaulted her, resulting in injuries. Arnold pleaded not guilty and was granted $2,000 bail with strict conditions, including staying 150 feet away from Medwood and reporting weekly to police. She returns to court on July 7, 2025.
Meanwhile, three men, all relatives who tried to break up the initial fight, were caught in a scuffle of their own and charged with common assault. They include Dequane Deshawn Garnett, 28, and brothers Albert Plunkett, 21, and Alburn Plunkett, 23. All three pleaded not guilty and were each granted $300 bail, also scheduled to return to court on July 7.
The Chief Magistrate strongly warned Lorna Garnett that she was lucky not to be facing aggravated assault charges, considering the seriousness of wielding a machete. Garnett assured the court she would not return to the family yard, a decision the Chief Magistrate supported as a necessary step to avoid further conflict.
The incident remains under investigation, but police confirmed that police action prevented what could have been a fatal outcome.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.
© 2025, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
The post Freetown Road family brawl ends with five charged after machete attack, gunshots fired appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2025. 11:11 am CST. By Breaking Belize News Staff: What began as a family dispute exploded into a chaotic street fight involving
The post Freetown Road family brawl ends with five charged after machete attack, gunshots fired appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.