Police Patrol in Caye Caulker Erupts into Chase and Shootout  

While most of Caye Caulker slept through Easter Sunday morning, police and residents would soon wake up to one of the island’s most brazen escapes. Just after four a.m., a routine patrol spiraled into a gunfight, a reckless chase, and a dramatic getaway by sea, leaving behind shell casings, burglary tools, and plenty of unanswered questions. Officers from the island’s Quick Response Team were patrolling Avenida Langosta when they spotted a red three‑wheeled cargo vehicle speeding through the quiet streets. Inside were three masked men, heading toward the Bowen and Bowen distributor.

 

Police moved in, but within seconds, one of the suspects reportedly opened fire, forcing officers to abandon their patrol cart and dive for cover. An officer returned fire as the suspects raced toward the RCD Wharf. The chase ended when the vehicle slammed into the water, but the escape didn’t. The suspects pulled themselves from the sea and jumped onto a waiting boat near the Fishermen’s Cooperative, slipping away before police could stop them. Investigators later recovered crowbars, steel tools linked to break‑ins, and seventeen spent shell casings scattered across the scene. Police are now combing through surveillance footage along the escape route and insist the suspects may be gone, but the investigation is still very much alive.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“On Sunday fifth April 2026 at around 4:02 a.m., QRT personnel were conducting patrol on Avenida Langosta when their attention were drawn to a red tricycle that was being driven by a masked man and two other masked men were in the seat of the tricycle. The tricycle sped off and it was pursued by the police officers and it is reported that one of the two masked men fired shots at the police officers, who returned fire. The male persons abandoned the tricycle and escaped and a search of that tricycle resulted in the discovery of a few burglary implements, being prey bar, crow bar, etc, Police are in the process of tracing the tricycle and reviewing video footage with a view to identifying the culprits in this incident.”

 

No arrests so far, but police say they’re continuing to pursue leads.

 

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.

 

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