Three people have now been charged in relation to a shooting incident, which took place on Banak Street in Belize City where a police officer and two civilians came under attack. The last to have been arraigned is 23-year-old Lionel Kelly, who was shot during the incident. He was hit to the back and abdomen and had to be treated at the hospital for his injuries. Following his release from the hospital, he was arrested and charged with participating in a criminal activity in association with a gang and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. To answer to these charges, Kelly appeared before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett where he pleaded not guilty to the charges but due to the nature of the offenses, he could not be offered bail. He now joins 24-year-old Ainsworth Foreman on remand, who along with a 17-year-old minor, had been charged for this incident.
The incident dates back to Friday, December 18, at around 8:30 a.m. when there were reports of shots being fired at the corner of Lakeview and Banak Streets in Belize City. CIB personnel visited the area where they met two police officers in an unmarked police vehicle. Those officers explained to CIB personnel that Foreman, Kelly, and the teen were seen firing shots in the direction of a home at the corner of the two streets. At the time of those shots being fired, Cpl. Mai exited the vehicle and approached said persons identifying himself as a police officer. This prompted the three men to fire shots in Cpl. Mai’s direction. As a result, the officer returned fire resulting in the civilians’ injuries. Likewise, one Nikita Smith was shot and injured in the process.
