San Pedro Tour Guide Killed in Alleged Setup; Two Detained

Police have detained two people in connection with the shooting of 26-year-old Zinedine Pinelo. The San Pedro tour guide was killed around midday on Friday on Hunter’s Lane in Belize City. Police say he was taken to the area by a Belize City resident to make a purchase, when he was ambushed by six men and shot multiple times. His licensed nine-millimeter pistol was then stolen and Pineda was left for dead. Today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero gave an update on the investigation and stated that police believe that Pinelo might have been set up.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division: “Information is that he went to Hunters Lane along with another male person to do a business transaction. Thereafter when he arrived there there were six other persons there, they attacked him, robbed him and one of the persons shot him causing his fatal injuries. We have two persons in custody in regards to this murder. He went to make a purchase from a person there, he went there with some cash to do a purchase and so stolen from him was his firearm and some cash. Information is that he was to purchase a motorcycle that is the information we got however we are doing more followup to see what the actual transaction was. We believe that he was led there, when he arrived there there were six persons waiting there and these are the persons that attacked him.”

Notably, Pinelo’s murder happened one day after a State of Emergency was declared in Belize City./