Father Fatally Shot in Belize City: Family Mourns Tragic Loss

Over the weekend, a father of one was gunned down as he made his way home in the Old Capital. The victim, 23-year-old Luis Miguel Beaton, had reportedly just left the home of his girlfriend when he was targeted by a lone gunman. The killing has left his family heartbroken because they say Beaton was trying to change his life for the better. Reporter Shilka Munoz tells us more.

Shilka Munoz, Love FM: In March, 23-year-old Luis Miguel Beaton graduated from an apprenticeship program with the assistance of the Leadership Intervention Unit with the hopes of bettering his family’s life. But on Saturday night, just after 11 o’clock, the father of one met his demise as he walked through an alley near Flamboyant and Oleander Street. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero, says Beaton had reportedly just left work when he became the target of a lone gunman who shot him as many as six times. 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “Information revealed that Beaton was coming home from work when he was attacked by a male person with a firearm causing his fatal injuries. We are investigating the matter. He was alone at the time and it appears, yes, he was a target.”

Shilka Munoz, Love FM: It is a brutal end to a life that was working at being a better person and the harsh reality that his loved ones will have to face. Kevin Cadel Director of Department of Youth Services was able to confirm and share with us that both Beaton and his girlfriend were a part of an apprenticeship program in hopes of improving their quality.”

Kevin Cadle, Director, Department of Youth Services: “We wanted to kind of sort of wet their feet and engage them back in the whole concept of going back to school and so we did that here at the Department of Youth Services. The second program was when they went to Tubal and that’s when they did the skills training program at Tubal. It was a step up from the remedial program and in that program he excelled as well in the area of AC and refrigeration. This was a young man that was literally working towards the developmental stage of literally contributing meaningfully to society. He had changed his life around similar to countless other young people, we have to continue our efforts to ensure that they learn to forgive each other and learn to love each other and care for each other. And I think that’s one of the major issues that we have, this lack of love and the continuity of giving an opportunity to an individual who is seeking to change his life and to become a productive member for society.”

Shilka Munoz, Love FM: It is unclear if the victim was the intended target or if this was just an senseless act of murder. ACP Romero explained that the police are still investigating the motive behind this.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “At this time investigators are out there and trying to establish a motive. We are not sure, we are working on the case as we speak.”

Shilka Munoz, Love FM: Many on social media are devastated at yet another murder of a young Belizean man. One of those who share in the dismay is Cadel, who noted that Beaton had so much untapped potential.

Kevin Cadle, Director, Department of Youth Services:  “It’s always a challenge as a social worker by heart. You are always there to try and support young people and assist them in their development and when you recognize that these things actually happen to young people, you do feel a sense of hurt, a sense of losing another soul that could actually contribute to the development of your country when you brought them so far to becoming what they are today and recognize that he was doing so well in his life to actually lose his life. That’s always a sad situation.”

Shilka Munoz, Love FM: This is Shilka Munoz reporting for Love News.