Crime - Greater Belize Media

Father Fatally Chopped by Son Just Before Father’s Day

Just before a weekend meant for honoring fathers, a heartbreaking tragedy has shaken the quiet San Mateo neighborhood in San Pedro. Rubio Salazar, a familiar face on the island, was killed in a shocking altercation, allegedly at the hands of his own son. What should have been a time for family and celebration has instead turned into a time of mourning and disbelief. The incident has left a family shattered and a community searching for answers. Tonight, we take a closer look at what led to this devastating turn of events. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

For one San Pedro family, this Father’s Day brought heartbreak instead of celebration. Fifty-nine-year-old Rubio Salazar lost his life in a violent altercation with his own son. Police say the argument between Rubio and thirty-nine-year-old Daniel Salazar turned deadly after a blow to the head escalated the situation.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police are investigating the death of fifty-nine-year-old Rubio Salazar of the San Mateo area, San Pedro, which occurred on June fourteenth, 2025, at approximately 3:30 P.M. The investigation revealed that Rubio Salazar and his son Daniel Salazar got into an altercation with each other, where it is alleged that Rubio struck Daniel with a stick, and Daniel inflicted a chop wound in the upper part of Rubio’s body, fatally wounding him. Daniel Salazar was detained, and it was observed that he had a wound to the temple for which he sought medical attention.”

Neighbors say the argument may have started over the family dogs, one belonging to Daniel Salazar at the front of the yard, and the other, known to be aggressive, belonging to his father at the back. They believe tensions over the dogs may have sparked the deadly confrontation. Meanwhile, Daniel’s mother, Erminia Muschamp, is still in shock. She says she never saw her son as a violent person and is struggling to come to terms with what happened.

Erminia Muschamp, Mother of Daniel Salazar

“I couldn’t believe it; I was surprised. Daniel is not that kind of person. He’s not a violent person; I can’t even explain. He is a calm person, a responsible person, and a mannered person. He’s not a drunkard, like, going to drink outside or socialize with people like that. He was the best son I ever have.”

Muschamp says her son isn’t a violent person and believes he may have been pushed to his breaking point. She claims her former husband, Rubio, had a history of aggression, and suggests that Daniel may have been triggered during the heated exchange that turned deadly.

Erminia Muschamp

“With me living with him, I know he was that person that used to hit me, used to be violent with me. But with kids, like with the years that passed, I can’t say about that. I don’t really know what kind of person he’d become after. When you’re living with somebody and then separate, it’s two different things. I can’t really say anything about Rubio’s life now.”

Police are yet to determine if self-defense can be applied to this incident.

ASP Stacy Smith

“Self-defence certainly arises on the facts; however, for self-defence to be successfully sustained, proportionality is the question. The office of the director of public prosecution will give directions as to what charges are to be levied under the circumstances. I can confirm that samples were taken from persons present and statements were recorded.”

The tragic death left a lasting impact on the entire family as they grieve the loss of Rubio and process the actions of Daniel Salazar. Erminia is hoping that no matter what the outcome, justice will prevail, and her family can overcome their heartbreak.

Erminia Muschamp

“I trust in God, and I believe in God. I pray for the best for my son because he has a daughter that will be graduating on Wednesday, and that’s what he says, ‘Mom, my daughter, my daughter.’ I said, ‘Son, just have to wait and wait for the best and hope that justice will be served,’ and I said, you know, something triggered Daniel to react like that, and he told me he was hit twice before I react and he was tired; he just came in from work maybe like 5 or 10 minutes before, according to what I understand. And you know in this sun hot coming in from work tired, and someone attacks you, you don’t think; you just react.”

At this time, the family remains torn and confused, but is leaning on each other for support as they grapple with the reality of the situation. Britney Gordon for News Five.

Police have no records of prior altercations between Daniel and Rubio Salazar.

Camalote Man Gunned Down Inside Mother’s Bedroom

A peaceful night in Camalote Village was shattered by gunfire on Friday, leaving a family devastated and a community in shock. Twenty-one-year-old Travis Swift was gunned down inside his mother’s bedroom, his life cut short in a hail of bullets. Over two dozen shell casings were recovered from the scene, and the bedroom wall still bears the scars of the violence. Police say Swift was the intended target. But the big question tonight is—why? Described by many as peaceful and well-mannered, Travis is now the second son Rosita Orellana has lost to gun violence in just seven years. It’s a heartbreaking story of loss, fear, and unanswered questions. Paul Lopez has more from Camalote.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Just minutes after twenty-one-year-old Travis Swift arrived home in Camalote Village, a gunman opened fire through a bedroom window. Swift was shot and killed at the foot of his mother’s bed. At the time, only he and his younger brother were home. Their mother, Rosita Orellana, was out that Friday night.

Rosita Orellana, Mother of Deceased

“And that is where they killed him in my room.”

In a terrifying moment that could have claimed two lives, Travis Swift’s younger brother tried to intervene as gunshots rang out inside their home. But the gunman wasn’t done, he turned his weapon on the young boy. Miraculously, Swift’s brother escaped without injury.

Rosita Orellana

“The younger brother was sitting in the hall, he shouted for him. But my younger son thought it was pop shots. When he shouted for my son, he went in the room and they shot at him too. My son said he was not afraid, he was there to help his brother. They shot so many shots at my other son. But they did not my other son.”

Rosita Orellana says the scene inside her home was like something out of a war zone. Investigators counted up to thirty spent shells scattered across the bedroom floor. The glass windows were shattered. The frame was riddled with bullet holes. And the wall directly across from the window? It’s peppered with marks from the barrage of gunfire. Police say Travis Swift had just come back from a quick run to a nearby store when the gunman struck. He barely had time to settle in before his life was taken in a hail of bullets.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“And shortly after he returned, it is believed that an unknown individual entered the residence and fired multiple shots fatally injuring Swift. Police are currently seeking two male persons who they believe can assist with this investigation.”

Reporter

“Any motive?”

ASP Stacy Smith

“No motive has been ascertained so far.”

Reporter

“Is he known to the police?”

ASP Stacy Smith

“He is not known to the police.”

Investigators have identified two suspects, both from Camalote Village, and confirmed that Swift was the intended target. For his mother, Rosita Orellana, the pain is all too familiar. In 2018, she lost another son, twenty-two-year-old Oswald Arnold, whose body was found along the Belize River after he’d been missing for six months. Today, an urn with Oswald’s ashes sits in the family’s dining room, a heartbreaking reminder of the violence that’s struck her family twice.

Rosita Orellana

“I lose a son, seven years ago, and still no justice. I would want justice for Travis because he really did not deserve it. Why they target Travis, only God knows. Only God knows, because he is not someone that give trouble. Whosoever, if it is one or two, we are not sure. We don’t know what side they came from and what is the reason they did this and why they chance Travis out of his life, why. You all are some cowards, because you did not have to do my son that. And I the ask unu the question, why Travis out of all people that did not bother anybody.”

Travis Swift graduated from the Baptist High School two years ago. Up to the time of his death he assisted his mother in operating a small business she runs. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Micah Baltazar’s Killer Convicted of Murder

A rare murder conviction has just been handed down in Belize, and it’s making headlines. Today, twenty-two-year-old Cassian Steve Billary was found guilty of the 2020 murder of nineteen-year-old Micah Baltazar, a case that shocked the nation with its cold and calculated nature. Baltazar was lured to his death under the pretense of meeting a girl, only to be gunned down with seventeen bullets. Billary, who was just eighteen at the time, claimed he acted under duress, saying he was threatened with death if he didn’t pull the trigger. But Justice Candace Nanton wasn’t convinced. She ruled that the evidence, including a detailed police interview, proved intent, and that duress is not a legal defense for murder in Belize. Billary’s mother was visibly shaken outside the courtroom as the guilty verdict was delivered just before noon. He’s now awaiting sentencing, scheduled for July eleventh.

Car Dealer Fined After Vanishing with Buyer’s Cash

A Belize City car dealer is in hot water tonight, accused of taking thousands of dollars from a customer and never delivering the vehicle she paid for. Thirty-one-year-old Jordan Gerald Morey appeared in court this afternoon, charged with obtaining property by deception. The allegations? Morey reportedly took six thousand, seven hundred dollars from Natesha Flores between September and December last year, promising to import a Mazda from the U.S. But the car never showed up, and neither did Morey, according to Flores, who says he vanished after months of excuses. In court, Morey pleaded guilty, citing personal hardship, including the recent death of his mother. Despite his plea, the magistrate noted a troubling pattern, this isn’t his first run-in with the law for similar offenses. He was fined two thousand, five hundred dollars and given until August twenty-ninth to pay up or face a year behind bars.

La Democracia Man Remanded for Weekend Chop Attack

Twenty-one-year-old Paul Smith Junior of La Democracia is behind bars tonight, accused of attempting to kill Tyrone Godoy during a violent altercation on Sunday, June eighth. Smith, who appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Ludlow Black, was read three serious charges: attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and grievous harm. Due to the severity of the charges, no plea was taken, and bail was denied. Smith has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until August sixth. This isn’t Smith’s first run-in with the law. He previously beat a murder charge in 2024 and was recently arraigned for escaping police custody and handling stolen goods. The motive behind Sunday’s chopping incident remains unclear, but Godoy suffered injuries to his hand and was hospitalized.

Crisis Response: Police Rethink Mental Health

When someone’s in the middle of a mental health crisis, their actions might seem erratic or even threatening, but often, it’s not about defiance. It’s about fear, confusion, or emotional pain. And how police respond in those moments can make all the difference. Tonight, we take a closer look at how the Belize Police Department is working to change the way officers handle these sensitive situations—through training, policy reform, and a renewed focus on compassion. Here’s more from News Five’s Isani Cayetano on police & mental health.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

When someone is in the middle of a mental health crisis, their behavior can seem unpredictable or even non-compliant. But often, it’s not about defiance, it’s about fear, confusion, or emotional distress. Experts say that understanding this is key. When police officers are trained to recognize the signs and respond appropriately, they can de-escalate situations safely, protecting not just the individual in crisis, but themselves and the public as well.

Dr. Karen Roberts, Pan American Health Organization

“We were having some challenges with crisis intervention and the use of force when it comes to clients with mental health conditions in the community. In addition to that, we also picked up that police officers, themselves, needed support in taking care of their own mental health.”

It’s not just about the use of force. In many cases, officers’ decisions have come under fire, especially when dealing with people who have mental health challenges. There have been troubling instances where these individuals were left vulnerable, and some say they were even taken advantage of. Back in 2020, three police officers, including Leslie Martinez and Jason Shaw, were accused of crossing a serious line. They allegedly tried to cover up an incident involving a man and a woman they found in a compromising situation. What makes this even more troubling? Both individuals reportedly suffer from mental illness, raising serious concerns about abuse of power and the treatment of vulnerable people.

Yvette Quintanilla, Mental Health Coordinator, MoHW

“We have been faced with different situations where some of our patients have been hurt and that is why we felt that it was very timely for us to update the manual in order for us to be able to train to prepare the police officers to have a better response whenever they are faced with patients who suffer from a mental illness.”

That handbook lays out exactly what officers are supposed to do when they respond to a situation involving someone with a mental illness. It’s meant to be their guide for handling these encounters with care and professionalism.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“After two decades, the mental health manual, the mental health policy for the department needs revision, a revision that requires a holistic approach. A revision that requires a concerted approach.”

With that in mind, the Belize Police Department is teaming up with the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the Pan American Health Organization to give the current policy a much-needed update. They’re working together to make sure it reflects the realities of dealing with mental health in the field.

Dr. Richard Rosado

“The revision is more than just procedural adjustments, it’s a recognition that we are moving towards a more progressive department, a department that requires a more balanced approach, that balances public safety and human dignity.”

Far too often, people living with mental illness end up behind bars when what they really need is medical care. That’s where proper training makes a big difference. When officers know how to recognize the signs, they can steer someone toward treatment instead of jail—connecting them with the help they actually need. Just a few weeks ago, Belizeans were left stunned and outraged. A fifty-seven-year-old retired nurse, Allaire McDougal, was sent to prison simply because she couldn’t pay a forty-eight-dollar bill. What made the situation even more heartbreaking? She’s living with a mental illness. For many, it was a painful reminder of how the system can fail those who need compassion—not punishment.

Yvette Quintanilla

“We teach the police officers about the mental health conditions, the signs, the symptoms, how to be able to recognize it. We also teach them de-escalation techniques, how to approach patients, how to speak with them, how to tone down a very difficult situation that, you know, it might build up into something else.”

Police officers have a responsibility to treat everyone with respect, including those living with mental health conditions. With the right training, they’re better equipped to do just that. It helps them make smart, compassionate decisions and avoid actions that could land them, or their department, in serious legal trouble.

Dr. Karen Roberts

“One of the main objectives is to be able to equip police officers with the skills to be able to de-escalate crises, while working as part of a multidisciplinary response team. So it’s not just police alone, but health has a role. We anticipate there’s going to be a role for social services and other agencies, depending on how the country defines that multidisciplinary team.”

At the end of the day, when officers respond with professionalism and compassion, everyone benefits. The person in crisis gets the help they need, families feel supported, communities stay safer, and the justice system works the way it’s supposed to. Isani Cayetano for News Five.

State of Emergency Expires After One Month; Men Released

The month-long state of emergency aimed at curbing gang violence in Belize City and nearby areas has officially come to an end. While Police Commissioner Doctor Richard Rosado had initially suggested extending it for up to six months, that idea has now been shelved. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa told us over the weekend that after meeting with Commissioner Rosado and other officials last week, they decided not to extend the SOE. We caught up with him at an event in Belize City, where he shared more about the decision.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“We did have a meeting last week with the eastern division as well as the specialized Unit in terms of a plan moving forward, a strategy moving forward. I am pretty confident, comfortable with all the plans that were devised by the minister and all the officers, so you will see some of the strategies playing out over the coming weeks and months.”

Paul Lopez

“Why not extend the state of emergency?”

Kareem Musa

“We did not feel like it was necessary at this point in time. As you know, a month ago, or a month and a half ago, there was that spike in crime and based on the information coming out at that time there was bound to be some retaliation. Since the young men have been under the state of emergency we have had mediation sessions, interventions. We have arrested in two of the cases, two of the murders, we have arrested the suspect sin those cases. We have taken a lot of guns off the streets. So you can see in that period where we were able to quell the crime and reduce the tensions of the streets. So we are hoping the mediation sessions carried out behind prison will have great effect and upon their return to society there will not be that continuation of crime and violence.”

Belize City Man to Stand Trial for Attempted Murder

A Belize City man is headed to the Supreme Court after being committed to stand trial for attempted murder. Thirty-seven-year-old Mark Stevens appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court today, where his preliminary inquiry wrapped up just before noon. Stevens is accused of stabbing thirty-one-year-old Juan Carlos Rios Pineda on June eighth, 2024, while Pineda was walking his dog near Lord Ridge Cemetery. According to police, Pineda identified Stevens as his attacker, saying he was chased and stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife. A witness, Pineda’s landlord, reportedly tried to intervene but was unsuccessful. Police later recovered a long-sleeve shirt and the suspected weapon, a wooden-handled kitchen knife, at the cemetery. The prosecution has submitted over fifteen witness statements and ten pieces of evidence. Stevens, who has been behind bars since his arraignment last June, was offered bail again but remains in custody. His trial is set for the October 2025 session of the Supreme Court.

Unitedville Landscaper Fatally Shot and Left in Graveyard

Residents of Unitedville were left stunned on Wednesday afternoon after a heartbreaking discovery near the village cemetery. Around four p.m., a young boy on his way to a football game noticed a strong, unpleasant smell. When he looked closer, he saw something no child should ever have to witness, the lifeless body of a man lying among the graves. Police and concerned villagers quickly arrived at the scene, but the man’s identity was initially unknown. It wasn’t until a photo of the body began circulating that family members came forward and identified him as forty-seven-year-old Paul Serano, a landscaper who lived between Unitedville and Belmopan. Authorities reported that Serano’s body was already in an advanced state of decomposition. He had suffered three gunshot wounds, one to the neck, one to the shoulder, and another to the abdomen. The news has devastated Serano’s family and the communities he was part of. A relative shared that the discovery came as a complete shock, they hadn’t even realized he was missing. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Serano’s death.

Voice of: Relative of Deceased

“He was staying with her, with my cousin in Belmopan. And that’s why she knew that it was her dad, because when he left from Belmopaan, he went to United Village. The same Saturday he left, he went there with our next cousin that he was staying with, She noticed that he haven’t returned home Sunday, Sunday night. But that was the same time that people in the village were saying that they heard gunshot within that same period of time in the village, but it was nothing strange due to the fact that they always have a set of boys. Who always shooting for no reason. So people paid no attention. But when they found the body, they thought he went back to his daughter in Belmopan for those days that he didn’t return to my other cousin in Unitedville. They thought he went back to Belmopan. Meanwhile, my cousin in Belmopan was thinking that he was still in Unitedville. So it was a miss crossing, thinking between the family. So we wasn’t even sure if he was, because he’s not a problem person. He’s not a drunken type, and he’s not a violent person to say when he goes, we don’t know where he at. Whenever he goes, we know where exactly he is because he’s a family-oriented person. He is a jovial person. He is this type of person who is very well known in Unitedville. He has no issue with no one. He has no problem with no one. He is someone that you could lift him in your yard to do work, which is, that is what he mostly do. He usually do landscape for people in their property in Unitedville. So it is something that is very shocking because he is a loving, respectable person. He, if he have something that he know you want, he would rather give it to you before any trouble. He would rather avoid problem if you come wrong and problems that he’s that type that will walk away.”

New Book Unpacks Roots of Gang Violence in Belize

A powerful new book is shedding light on the complex realities of gang life in Belize City, and it’s sparking important conversations about violence, identity, and community. Today, sociologist Doctor Adam Baird officially launched his latest publication, From South Central to South Side, at the University of the West Indies. The book, published by Cubola, explores gang transnationalism, masculinity, and what Dr. Baird calls ‘disorganized violence’ in Belize City. Doctor Baird has spent years researching gang dynamics in Belize and beyond. His work connects the dots between local struggles and international patterns, offering a fresh perspective on how violence takes root, and how it might be addressed.

Dr. Adam Baird, Sociologist & Author

“The book is a history of gangs in Belize, particularly on the south side and it focuses on how gangs came, the Bloods and Crips, from the USA into Belize, how the gangs grew, how the violence escalated. Critically, what I am trying to do in the book is to provide some sustainable solutions and responses to gang violence because, as everybody knows, it’s a critical issue in the country and we’re struggling to find solutions.”

Isani Cayetano

“What was the motivation behind putting this book together? You said you’re a researcher, you’ve done extensive work here in the country. What brought you to the point where you decided to the point where you decided to put all of this in writing?”

Adam Baird

“Well I first came here in 2011 and I designed a gang intervention program for the UNDP called the South Side Youth Success Program. What really struck me were two things: the first thing was the very high levels of violence in the country; and the second thing, myself as a gang researcher, I went to the academic literature and said, what can I find on a history of gang violence in Belize and there were very few publications. These did begin to come out, Dr. Herbert Gayle, Nelma Mortis-Jones wrote that book, “Like Bushfire” and also, Nuri Muhammed wrote his book on insights into gang culture. For me, it was very important that a foreigner comes to the country and casts an eye over what’s happening to give you a bit of an outsider’s perspective on what’s going on inside the country. And in the first book launch here at the University of West Indies, I think there was a confirmation that we share a lot of the same type of analysis about the reasons that we have gang violence and what drives gang violence in this city. So I left that first session today feeling very hopeful that we can collaborate together and generate new ideas about how to solve gang violence.”

From South Central to South Side is now available through Cubola Publishers. It’s a timely and thought-provoking read for anyone interested in the deeper issues shaping our communities.