Police Shooting in Southern Belize Under Investigation After Man Allegedly Attacks Officer with Machete

Police in southern Belize are investigating the shooting of a man who they claim assaulted a cop with a machete. Last week, police in Silk Grass Village, Stann Creek responded to reports of a man armed with a machete threatening persons at a store. Upon arrival, police say the man moved toward one of the officers and attempted to hit him. Police responded by trying to subdue the man, but when that failed, the cop opened fire on the man with a rubber bullet. On Friday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams weighed in on the situation and explained that the Professional Standards Branch had been assigned to the investigation. 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “I was briefed of that incident and from what I was told was that the man who was shot was advancing to the police I think with some weapon and he was shot with rubber bullets. He was not shot with lethal ammunition. And using rubber bullets in a situation like that would be justified. It is a non lethal issue. If it is that he had made a report to the police to PSB and PSB was investigating if he later on decides to go and accept any payment from anybody so as not to proceed with the matter as he should have then that is on him. I cannot prove or disprove at this time if in fact the police paid him off not to proceed against them but if he did that then he created his own dilemma. I was told that there was a report that they were responding to involving the son of the man and when the police went there then he attacked the police with a machete or a knife or something of that sort and he was shot. That’s what I know.”

The man received medical attention and, fortunately, did not face any charges from the police.