Food Vendor Charged with Attempted Murder

Police have charged 22-year-old food vendor Jael Felicito Ayala with attempted murder for the brutal chopping incident on Sunday night in San Lazaro Village, Orange Walk.

The victim, 37-year-old Edwardo Contreras, was assaulted in front of the A and E store after an argument escalated.

At Monday’s police briefing, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero said Contreras was attacked by two men. “Investigations revealed that he [Contreras] was involved in a fight with two other male persons, Jael Coronado and Alfredo Coronado, who inflicted several chops to him,” he said.

Police are still looking for Alfredo Coronado.

Graphic videos  show Contreras with severe head and body injuries, including a partially severed arm. A woman can be seen trying to push one of the attackers away as the other continued the assault.

Contreras remains in critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.