Families Demand Accountability After Media Reports Double Homicide as Murder-Suicide

As the news of the double homicide rocked the Burrell Boom Community and chilled the homes of family and friends, many media outlets ran with a murder/suicide narrative.  Family members and friends were angered at the misleading information, demanding better investigative journalism.  Police Commissioner Chester Williams also took to social media clarifying that at no point did the authorities give an official statement indicating a murder/suicide.  

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “We have the issue where there are several media outlets in Belize and there is always that competition for who can get the story out first. I would wish the competition would be who can get the most accurate story out first as opposed to just getting a story out just for the wants of likes and comments. Some media houses last night posted that the incident was a murder suicide. When I don’t know where they get that from. The police are the investigators, we are the ones who would normally guide the story that is given to the public via the media and at no point did we ever allude to the media that it was a murder suicide. From the police arrived on the scene and having observed what they saw it was our conclusion that it could have only been a double murder and not a murder suicide. Media houses while you have the responsibility of feeding the public with information you have a greater responsibility in ensuring that the information that is being fed to the public is credible information. When misinformation is shared such information can deepen the wounds of victims meaning surviving victims or the loved ones of deceased victims.”