Family Alleges Ambush in Fatal La Democracia Shooting

Tonight, a family in La Democracia village is reeling after a deadly shooting they say was no accident. Twenty one year old Paul Smith Jr. was killed in what relatives and witnesses describe as a targeted ambush, one that unfolded moments after a heated argument with his girlfriend and ended with armed attackers opening fire. Smith, a young man already known to the public because of past arrests and a high profile 2022 murder case he was later acquitted of, now leaves behind a grieving family who say long standing internal tensions may be at the heart of this tragedy. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Less than six months after walking out of Belize Central Prison, twenty‑one‑year‑old Paul Smith Jr. is dead. Once accused in a brutal chopping attack and no stranger to police, Smith was shot and killed Tuesday in his own neighborhood. His family says the shooting happened moments after an argument with his girlfriend, when gunmen ambushed him; shots his cousin Tamara Gillett says she heard as he was gunned down.

 

Voice of: Tamara Gillett, Cousin of Deceased

“It look like ney bwai mussi done di dog out. So ney end up di run outta di bush and shot up he. We mi deh inna wre house. We only hear the gunshot. When we hear the gun shot, we run and when we run out we fly past the spot weh my cousin mi deh.”

 

Smith was hit multiple times, in the chest, stomach, and arms, while his friend, twenty‑four‑year‑old Tyrece Allen, escaped with minor injuries. Both men were rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, but despite doctors’ efforts, Smith later succumbed to his wounds.

 

Voice of: Tamara Gillett, Cousin of Deceased

“When we stay out deh and we just see the car fly past and ney seh my cousin get shot. My cousin get shot. So when ney di seh my cousin get shot we neva mi di think that da mi something major or critical we mi just think he get shot inna he hand or something. So we deh ya and my aunty call me Junjun dead. Junjun dead. So I tell everybody bwai bwai. I cya believe it, Ney kill my cousin. Ney kill my cousin.”

 

Smith had a well‑documented history with law enforcement. He had been previously arraigned for gun and ammunitions charges, handling stolen goods, as well as more violent crimes, including attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm. His family admits Smith had a long record, but insists his past did not justify his killing.

 

Voice of: Tamara Gillett

“My cousin neva deserve that. We nih di seh he neva bad right? We noh seh he neva bad but he neva touch none ah ney. This da wa family issue. This thing ya, this extend big when ih neva have to extend like that.”

 

In 2024, Smith was acquitted of the murder of La Democracia resident, Tyreak August. That incident happened in 2022. After his release, Smith’s attorney, Ronell Gonzalez, said  the young man had been urged to turn his life around and leave crime behind.

 

Ronell Gonzalez, Attorney-At-Law (File: November, 13^th, 2024)

“The judge like other judges I have seen offered guidance to young people that come before the court. In this case he offered guidance to young Paul Smith to say that what happens from here in your life is dependent on you. You have the power to make changes from this point. You are now free from this case. What happens is your choice. That is some kind of guidance I have seen come before these courts. Madam Justice Moore does the same kind of guidance. Often times young people get caught up in these offense and they need some kind of guidance moving forward.”

 

According to Gillett, the killing stemmed from a feud with other members of the family. She claims that several attempts had been made on his life in the past.

 

Voice of: Tamara Gillett

“Ney mi want he dead long time. Threats been di come da back ya, ney shot my aunty, his ma. Ney shot his ma. Ney shot my cousin da back ya. Ney burn down his sister house. Miss ney people ney want drama. Ney want drama like how we seh. Now boom ney get ney wish. Ney mi want mi cousin dead. Ih dead now.”

Relatives say they are heartbroken, still struggling to come to terms with how Smith was killed. His cousin, Angel Estrada says that despite his flaws, Smith was a friend to her and many others.

 

Voice of: Angel Estrada, Cousin of Deceased

“Like weh she seh, it neva had to gone this far. You get the sense? And this da wa life. Wa life we di talk bout. He mi deh ya. And regardless ah whatsoeva, we know the goodness ah he. And at the end of the day we noh di seh he had mi no good pikni or whatsoeva but we know the goodness ah he.”

 

Police have detained several suspects, but no arrests have been made so far. Britney Gordon for News Five.