Police Investigate Machete Attack, Gun Threats and Ammunition Offences

Police are investigating several unrelated incidents reported across the country, including an alleged machete attack, firearm threats, a disputed vehicle transfer, a traffic incident and ammunition offences.  In San Jose Succotz Village, 66-year-old businesswoman Emerita Chuc was hospitalized after she was allegedly attacked with a machete by her grandson on Saturday evening. Chuc told police that she was outside her home when the young man approached her with the weapon. She raised her arms to protect her face and reportedly sustained chop wounds to both arms and behind her right ear. Her injuries were certified as grievous harm.  Police later detained Jermaine Shamir Williams and recovered a machete near Chuc’s residence. Williams was charged with attempted murder, grievous harm and use of deadly means of harm. Chuc told investigators that her grandson had been experiencing mental-health and substance-use problems and that she had previously tried to secure assistance for him.

In another incident, three Belize City men have been charged after police reportedly recovered three live nine-millimetre rounds from a vehicle abandoned near the Yabra Bridge early Sunday morning. Officers found a damaged black Ford Escape and detained Devon Garcia, Esmond Austin and Isanie Conorqui. During the search, Garcia allegedly grabbed the ammunition and threw it toward a nearby canal, but the rounds landed in an open yard and were recovered. All three men were charged with keeping ammunition without a gun licence, while Garcia was additionally charged with obstruction.   In another Belize City incident, 19-year-old Jeffrey Woodeye reported that he was threatened during a confrontation with a neighbour on Tuesday morning. Woodeye told police that rocks had apparently been thrown onto the roof of his home and that, while investigating, he encountered a man known to him as Dominic. The neighbour allegedly had an object resembling a firearm tucked into his waistband and reportedly threatened to shoot Woodeye in the face. Woodeye later visited the Raccoon Street Police Station and requested court action.