Belize City Man Gunned Down in Suspected Land Dispute

A Belize City neighborhood is in mourning tonight after a brutal early morning murder that has left residents shaken and police searching for answers. Fifty-nine-year-old Egbert Flowers was just beginning his day, stepping out of his yard and onto his motorcycle to head to work, when a lone gunman approached and opened fire. Multiple shots rang out, striking Flowers and leaving him lifeless on the ground. The sound of gunfire startled the entire Yorke Street community. Neighbors awoke to a horrifying scene—Flowers lying in a pool of blood, and his partner’s anguished screams echoing through the morning air as she cradled his body in disbelief. Tonight, police are investigating whether this cold-blooded killing may be linked to a land dispute among relatives—a possible motive that has surfaced in the aftermath of the tragedy. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on this developing story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A Belize City man was gunned down early this morning in a shocking act of violence on Yorke Street. Just after four a.m., fifty-nine-year-old Egbert Flowers had just stepped outside and was getting on his motorcycle to head to work when a gunman approached and opened fire. The sound of gunshots jolted neighbors awake. Flowers was hit multiple times in the head and body, collapsing at his front gate with his motorcycle falling on top of him. He died on the scene.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police are investigating the murder of Egbert Flowers, fifty-nine-year-old Belizean of York Street address Belize City which occurred in the early morning hours of June second. The investigation has so far revealed that Flowers was departing his residence at around four-twenty-five when he was accosted by an armed make individual who fired several shots, fatally injuring him. Police are investigating this incident.”

 

Moments after the shooting, several residents ran to assist Egbert Flowers, who lay motionless at his front gate. His partner, overwhelmed and in shock, ran outside in a panic. Through her cries, she claimed that the shooting was the result of a family land dispute. Today, police confirmed that this possible motive is part of their ongoing investigation.

ASP Stacy Smith

“Police have been following several leads as it relates to that.”

 

Flowers worked as a truck driver at the Belize Waste Control on the George Price Highway. Neighbors say Egbert Flowers was the kind of person who always showed up when you needed help. He was friendly, thoughtful, and generous with his time. Now, as police work to find his killer, they’re turning to surveillance cameras in the area, hoping the footage will offer crucial clues in solving this tragic case.

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“This area is one which has video cameras, and police surveillance cameras. So, they are being reviewed with the intent of determining how this incident unfolded and with the view of ultimately making an arrest.”

 

Reporter

“Was the intended?”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“From all indications it appears he was the intended target.”

 

Yorke Street is not an area that falls under the current state of emergency.

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez