Licensed Gun Owner Charged for Guinea Grass Murder

Police have arrested and charged a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Guinea Grass teenager following a violent barroom dispute on Sunday night. Investigators say an argument broke out inside a village bar and escalated when one of the men involved was escorted out. Police say he returned a short time later with a firearm and opened fire toward the establishment. Eighteen‑year‑old Noe Batun was struck and later died from his injuries. Authorities have now charged forty‑five‑year‑old farmer Rodel Jesus Cruz with murder. Police say Cruz holds a licensed firearm, but investigators have not yet confirmed whether that weapon was used in the deadly shooting.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“As a consequence of the ongoing investigation into the shooting death of Noe Batun, which occurred on twenty-second March, 2026 in Guinea Grass Village, Orange Walk District, police have formally arrested and charged forty-five-year-old Rodel Jesus Cruz, a Belizean farmer of Guinea Grass village for the crime of murder. I can confirm that Mr. Cruz is the holder of a firearm license for a shotgun.”

 

Shane Williams

“Was the shotgun the weapon of – the murder weapon.”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“That has not been conclusively ascertained. As more information is known and they become necessary to be shared, that will be done.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: