Joseph Budna Involved in Fatal Shooting in San Ignacio

The third murder involved a convicted criminal, purportedly a news reporter, who has found himself in a questionable situation. Last night, police responded to gunshots fired at a farm on Branch Mouth Road in San Ignacio Town, Cayo. Police say when they arrived, they found a male, believed to be a minor, lying motionless inside the home of 43-year-old Joseph Budna. Cops say Budna and the young male, who is yet to be identified, came under gunfire inside Budna’s bedroom. Both were rushed to the San Ignacio Community Hospital, where the minor succumbed to his injuries. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, explained that investigators are working to gather the young man’s identity and may charge Budna if the person is underage. 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “In interviewing the adult in this case the adult is saying that him and this person who is believed to be a minor were in bed lying listening to some mellow music when the sound of gunshots were heard and him and the other person were injured. He further went on to disclose that he believed that the shooting was done by another person who he alleged wanted to engage in sexual activity with him for a certain sum of money but he does not have that sum of money and so he declined that offer and nonetheless he ended up in bed with this other person who is believed to be a minor. At this time we’re still investigating the matter to ascertain what really happened and to see if there is any possibility that charges can brought against the adult. Again it would be based on the age of this person. What we are gathering is that the person may be sixteen. If he is of sixteen years then he would be within the age of consent. If he’s below sixteen then he would fall outside the range of consent and so we’ll be able to look to see if we can bring charges against the male adult in this particular case.”

The incident has brought into question whether the young man, believed to be a minor, was being abused by Budna. Minister of Human Development and Families, Dolores Balderamos Garcia, weighed in on the news and urged parents to pay keen attention to their children.