Father Killed in San Pedro After Violent Argument With Son Over Dog

59-year-old Rubio Salazar, a Belizean laborer of the San Mateo area in San Pedro Town, was killed on Saturday afternoon during an altercation with his son. Salazar was found lying unresponsive on the ground with a severe chop wound to the head, bleeding profusely outside his residence. When police arrived at around 3p.m., they observed Salazar’s son, 39-year-old Daniel Javier Salazar, holding a towel to his father’s head in an attempt to stop the bleeding. The injured man was immediately transported to the San Pedro Polyclinic and pronounced dead on arrival at 4:08 p.m. Preliminary investigations reveal that the deadly incident stemmed from an argument between father and son over a dog. Reports are that during the dispute, Rubio Salazar struck his son in the head with a stick. Daniel allegedly retaliated by inflicting the fatal chop wound on his father. Police processed the scene and recovered a blood-stained machete believed to have been used in the incident. Salazar’s body was later transported to Belize City, where a post-mortem examination is to be conducted. Love News spoke with Assistant Superintendent of Police, Stacy Smith who said that blood samples have been taken to indicate whether or not alcohol was involved. 

Stacy Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police: “Police are investigating the death of 59-year-old Rubio Salazar of San Mateo area San Pedro, which occurred on 14 June 2025 at approximately 3:30 pm. The investigation has so far revealed that Rubio Salazar and his son, 39-year-old Daniel Salazar, got into an altercation with each other where it is alleged that Rubio struck Daniel with a stick and Daniel inflicted a chop wound to the upper part of Rubel Salazar’s body fatally wounding him. Daniel Salazar was detained where it was observed that he had a wound to the temple for which he sought medical attention. Daniel Salazar is currently in police’s custody where it is expected that charges will be brought against him during the course of the day. Self-defense certainly arises on the facts, however,  for a defense of self-defense to be successfully sustained, proportionality is the question. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution will give directions as to what charges are to be laid under the circumstances. I can confirm that samples were taken from persons that were present and statements were recorded.”

 Daniel Javier Salazar remains in custody as police continue their investigation.