Social Media Creator and Businessman Appear Before Magistrate 

Social media creator Benjamin Garcia and businessman Sergio Martinez were taken to court this morning after remaining in police custody over the weekend.

Both men were charged with discharging a firearm in public after police pursued and intercepted their pickup truck following reports of gunshots near Social Lounge in Belize City early Saturday morning.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero said officers responded around 1:30 am on Saturday to reports of gunshots on the Philip Goldson Highway in Belize City. “The police responded, and they saw a Ford 150 pickup fleeing from the area,” Romero said. Officers chased the pickup and stopped it near the City’s Flag roundabout. 

“Garcia was asked if he had a firearm, and he mentioned yes, he had a firearm. He handed over a licensed 9 mm pistol,” Romero added.

According to Romero, Garcia did not reveal the reason for the need to discharge his firearm. 

Garcia is a social media creator with B Media Group. Martinez Ramirez is a 36-year-old Mexican from Hopkins Village.