Daylight Santa Elena Ambush Becomes Double Homicide

A weekend daylight ambush along George Price Avenue in Santa Elena has escalated into a double homicide investigation following the death of a second victim yesterday.  The attack unfolded shortly after noon on Saturday, August 29, while 35-year-old self-employed Georgeville resident Rasheed Hyde and 36-year-old Dangriga mechanic Gil Pineda were working together on a pickup truck outside a private residence. ASP Stacy Smith briefed the media on what investigators have gathered so far.

Stacy Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police: “Police have detained two male persons and impounded a vehicle of interest as a part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of 35-year-old Rasheed Hyde of Georgeville, Village Cayo District, and 36-year-old Gill Pineda of Dangriga. The investigation commenced at around 12:10 p.m. on Saturday, 29 August, 2026, when Santa Elena police were alerted of a shooting on George Price Avenue in that municipality. What has been gathered so far in the course of this ongoing investigation is that both Hyde and Pineda were in front of a residence when they were fired upon by individuals on board a Nissan Rogue. Both Hyde and Pineda were struck and were subsequently referred to the hospital for medical attention. However, Hyde succumbed shortly thereafter, whilst Pineda passed away on Sunday, August 30th whilst undergoing treatment. There are two motives that are being pursued and as it becomes necessary to be disclosed, they will be disclosed.”

Information to our newsroom is that a dark-colored SUV with heavily tinted windows and no license plates pulled up beside the men, allowing occupants inside to open fire before speeding away toward Carrillo Puerto Avenue.  Hyde sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Ignacio Community Hospital at 12:15 p.m. Pineda was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital in critical condition, where he fought for his life before succumbing to his injuries the following day.  Although it is noted that Hyde had known affiliations with a local gang, detectives are actively exploring two distinct personal disputes as primary motives for the target.  The first lead stems from a vehicular incident two to three months ago in which Hyde struck a woman with his automobile, an issue that was officially mediated and financially settled, though the woman’s husband reportedly issued recent death threats. The second line of inquiry focuses on an ongoing vehicle dispute involving unpaid debts that had similarly triggered escalating threats of violence prior to Saturday’s fatal shooting.