Mauri Gomez Charged in Murder of Fellow Fisherman

A fishing trip to Ranguana Caye has now become a murder case. Police have formally charged thirty-three-year-old Belize City fisherman Mauri Julian Gomez in connection with last week’s deadly stabbing on the island. Gomez is accused of killing fellow fisherman Jose Luis Arteaga and injuring another man during an altercation among fishermen. While different accounts have surfaced about what led to the violence, police say their investigation has resulted in charges for murder and wounding. ASP Stacy Smith shares the latest on the case.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police have formally arrested and charged thirty-three-year-old Mauri Julian Gomez, a Belizean fisherman, for the crime of murder and the offense of wounding. The arrest of Gomez follows police investigation into the murder of Jose Luis Arteaga and the injury of another male person. What the investigation has so far established is that Gomez, along with Arteaga and other persons, were at Rangana Caye when an altercation reportedly ensued. During the course of the altercation, Mauri is reported to have stabbed Jose Luis Arteaga, a fisherman, and injured another person before he was subdued by other fishermen that were at that location.”

 

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