Gun Violence Claims Another Young Life in Lake I

Tragedy struck Lake Independence Monday night when fifteen-year-old Eric Reyes was shot and killed just steps from his home. The teen collapsed on Park Street after a lone gunman opened fire, another painful reminder of the grip gun violence has on Belize City. Police say they’re following every lead to find the shooter, while offering condolences to a family already facing hardship. Reyes wasn’t in school and lived with his paralyzed mother. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A fifteen-year-old Belize City resident is the latest victim of homicide. Eric Reyes was riding his bicycle along Park Street in Lake Independence when a gunman opened fire in his direction. He collapsed just steps from his home, where he took his last breath. Today, a pile of sand covers the bloodstains on a street filled with his childhood memories. Police have launched an investigation.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“The ongoing investigation commenced on Monday December first, 2025 at approximately ten p.m. when officers who were on patrol in the Saint Martin Area were alerted to the sound of shots being fired. These officers proceeded to the direction where they heard the shots being fired and they were further advised by the personnel of the Police Control Room of the exact scene of the shooting incident. Upon the arrival of the responding officers, they observed the motionless body of the young Mr. Reyes, which exhibited apparent gunshot wounds. What the ongoing investigation has disclosed so far is that Reyes was riding his bicycle on Park Street when he was accosted by an unknown individual who fired the shot that fatally wounded him.”

Doctors at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital pronounced him dead on arrival. News Five understands that Reyes was not attending school in recent years. He lived with his paralyzed mother, who did everything she could to care for him. According to police, Reyes was not involved in any gang activities.

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“An often stated phrase I like to listen to or take into consideration says that the hallmark of a society or the greatness of a society is determined by how they treat their elderly and the young who are both categories of persons who are considered vulnerable. What we have seen over the past few days are incidents involving persons who fall directly into these categories, in terms of the shooting death of Mr. Myles, though he was very agile and out there, he was a person up in age and now we see the shooting of a very young fifteen-year-old Mr. Reyes. The department remains very resolute in its commitment in fighting crime and we have to continue to implore members of the general public to cooperate with us.”

 

Reyes’ murder is a heartbreaking loss, a young life cut short by the gun violence gripping Belize City. The Belize Police Department extended condolences to the family and assured the public it’s committed to using every resource to bring the killer to justice. But there’s one glaring detail we can’t ignore, only recently, police stepped up patrols in the area with backup from Belize Defense Force personnel.

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“Though we try our best in ensuring that all areas are covered and try our best in ensuring that high risk areas are covered, we cannot cover every square inch of the area. But what I can say is that the same effort placed in ensuring that persons were on the ground, we will match it with the investigative action taken to bring the person responsible to justice.”

Reporter

“This incident happened around ten o’clock in the night, and this is a minor a fifteen-year-old child in the street.”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“What we have learnt is that the young Mr. Reyes lived in a unique circumstance where his mother is a paraplegic and he resides with her as a sibling and because of the situation he is confronted with, his situation is not as optimal as it should be and while the father does not live with the family, he does assist. But the general take away with the minor being out on the street, or anybody, we don’t want to create a panic or a state of concern, but if you don’t have any need to be out on the street do not do so.  But we also ask persons out on the street to be their brother’s keeper and report any suspicious activities they see.”

 

Investigators are yet to establish a motive. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.