Land Dispute Turns Violent in Lemonal, Woman Shot

A land dispute in Lemonal Village took a violent turn Tuesday afternoon, leaving a woman injured and a licensed gun holder facing criminal charges. Police say fifty-four-year-old driver Rupert Gentle was clearing land with a bulldozer when he was confronted by thirty-three-year-old Stacey Middleton, who told him to stop. Middleton was with another adult and a minor at the time. What happened next escalated quickly. Investigators say Gentle drove the bulldozer in their direction. Middleton, apparently frightened, threw water from a bottle at him. Gentle reportedly believed the liquid was acid and said he felt a burning sensation to his face. Fearing for his life, police say Gentle pulled his licensed firearm and fired a shot, hitting Middleton. She was rushed for medical treatment, while officers secured the scene and recovered the weapon along with ammunition. Gentle later handed over the firearm and was taken into custody. On Wednesday, in the presence of a Justice of the Peace, Gentle declined to give a statement. Police have since charged him with use of deadly means of harm and wounding. And because of the seriousness of those charges, Gentle won’t be going home tonight. Under the Crimes Control and Criminal Justice Act, the court had no option to grant bail. That means he has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison, where he’ll remain until July tenth, twenty twenty-six, when his case returns to court.

 

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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