Belize City Man Sentenced to Two Years for Illegal Firearm on Carnival Day 2023

A 37-year-old Belize City man has been convicted and sentenced after being found with an illegal firearm and ammunition on Carnival Day 2023. Leroy Ramsey, a laborer of North Creek was sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and six live rounds of ammunition. Ramsey, who was unrepresented in court, originally pleaded not guilty to the charges but changed his plea to guilty today, just over a year after his arrest. During the hearing, he acknowledged his actions, conceded to having the weapon, and asked for leniency. The incident occurred during the Carnival Road March on Saturday, September 9, 2023, in Belize City. As the parade made its way down Vernon Street, police officers on duty were alerted by a concerned citizen who reported seeing a man with a firearm inside a sling bag. The citizen provided a description of the individual and pointed him out to the officers. Acting on this information, police officers approached the man, later identified as Leroy Ramsey, who was seen dancing behind one of the trucks during the parade. Upon identifying themselves as law enforcement, the officers informed Ramsey that they would be conducting a search for any illegal items. Police say Ramsey attempted to reach into his sling bag, but they quickly restrained him and escorted him off the parade route. Upon searching the bag, officers discovered a black and grey 9mm pistol with a magazine containing six live rounds of S&B brand ammunition. When asked if he had a license for the firearm, Ramsey was unable to produce one.  He was taken to Precinct One and charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. In court today, Senior Magistrate of Court #2 sentenced Ramsey to two years for the firearm charge and one year for the ammunition. However, the Magistrate ordered that the two sentences run concurrently, meaning Ramsey will serve a total of two years in prison. It is important to note that this is not Ramsey’s first encounter with the law. In 2008, at the age of 28, he was convicted of attempted murder after a shooting incident on Raccoon Street in Belize City. Ramsey was found guilty of attempting to kill Lincoln Broaster and Cecilio Madrill during a shooting that took place in the early hours of February 19, 2008.