Police Release Possible Motive for San Pedro Triple Murder

Three people were killed in a late-night shooting one mile south of San Pedro Town on Thursday, in what police believe is the latest flare-up in an ongoing drug rivalry on the island.

Police responded to reports of gunfire around 9:58 p.m. at an elevated wooden home in the Mosquito Coast area. Inside, officers found two men, 29-year-old fisherman Karim Nazim Espat and 35-year-old carpenter Oscar Modesto Mas, lying motionless with apparent gunshot wounds.

A third victim, 21-year-old Honduran national Yerlin Marisol Bueso Alvarez, had been rushed to the San Pedro Polyclinic with gunshot injuries. She later succumbed to her wounds just after midnight.

Police say the victims were inside Mas’ home along with Espat’s wife when three men dressed in hooded jackets entered the yard. One of the men reportedly went inside and opened fire. Espat’s wife managed to escape unharmed. The gunmen fled the scene shortly after.

At the scene, investigators recovered several expended nine-millimeter shells and twelve-gauge cartridges. The bodies of Espat and Mas were transported to the clinic, where they were pronounced dead.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero told reporters that Espat was known to police and is believed to have been the intended target. “This is an ongoing rivalry between two groups in San Pedro over drugs,” Romero said. “We have several suspects in custody from a rival faction.”

Authorities have since deployed the Major Crimes Unit to San Pedro and increased police presence on the island amid concerns of possible retaliation. “We have sent additional personnel to prevent any form of retaliation,” Romero confirmed.

Full details on News 5 Live at 6 p.m.