Residents Flee as Police, Gunmen Trade Shots on East Collet Canal

Chaos unfolded in Belize City today as a brazen, midday gun battle between police and two-armed men sent residents scrambling for safety. What began as an attack on siblings Clinton and Kiandra Pou quickly escalated into a dangerous chase through one of the city’s busiest areas, forcing civilians, including children, to run, hide, and even jump into the canal to escape the deadly exchange. Tonight, we take you inside those terrifying moments along East Collet Canal and bring you the firsthand story of a man who suddenly found himself in the middle of the madness.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Just before midday, chaos erupted along East Collet Canal in Belize City. Police, locked in a high‑speed chase with two armed men, opened fire near the bustling Conch Shell Bay Market, right along one of the city’s busiest stretches. In an instant, shoppers, vendors, children, everyone, scrambled for safety. Some even leaped into the murky canal to escape the bullets flying overhead as the gunmen returned fire at police. One eyewitness who spoke with News Five said he had to duck into a nearby yard just to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

 

Voice of: Eyewitness

“It was so confusing that the police the shoot and the civilian the shoot at the same time. It was like twenty shots that buss off. I would say certain people say like thirty shots, but it was twenty odd. But it was a lot of shooting. All I did was run in a yard, because I saw my friend running, because I know that I am no part of it. In this life right now is lent and the devil is busy. The officer look at me and say you are part of it. I said, how will I be a part of it and I dah wah fisherman. I distinctly told him that.”

 

Police shot and wounded one of the gunmen, catching him moments later on a dead‑end street. Officers stayed on the scene searching for his weapon, eventually concluding he had tossed it into the river. The injured suspect was rushed to the hospital. Police nabbed the second gunman on a nearby street and reportedly recovered a firearm. Tonight, one of the suspects, Ryan Barnett, has been confirmed dead.

 

Voice of: Eyewitness

“I would not expect that just walking out there to buy something to eat you would have to run for your life. But right now in society it is the youths, they are not thinking, they just the do things.”

 

The chase and shootout began moments after two gunmen opened fire at a food truck on East Collet Canal. Their targets were siblings Clinton and Kiandra Pou. Clinton, who had survived two previous attempts on his life, wasn’t as fortunate this time. He died while receiving treatment at the KHMH. Police found as many as thirty expended shells at the scene. A mobile patrol was nearby, allowing officers to respond within seconds.

 

Voice of: Eyewitness

“Back yah suh dah one way in and one way out. And for years, we the haul out boat and take off engine. Back here is for fishermen. It has nothing to do with bad people. So, when they ran back here, all I can say it is confused people and we Belizeans have to be careful right now because they will shoot you for nothing fuh dead. Society the turn out very serious. You could want change your life and do anything, but being around the people at the wrong time it could make you lose your life. I get up this morning and I never expect I would have to run. I never expect police would put a gun on me and say come, you are a part of this. Big man, I the run for my life.”

 

Paul Lopez

“You see people jump dah water?”

 

Voice of: Eyewitness

“Yes, man jump dah water. I deh with two of my brethren, one deh under the boat bow, one reach way under the stern.”

 

Residents are still rattled by how fast a simple midday errand turned into a fight for survival. And even with one suspect dead and another in police custody, the community is left asking hard questions about the rising cycle of violence and the growing danger ordinary Belizeans face just going about their day. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

 

Is Midday Shooting Connected to Edward Saldano Shooting?

 

We turn now to the Belize Police Department for official details on the troubling attack that has left the community shaken. Here’s Staff Officer Stacy Smith with additional information on the deadly encounter.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Police are investigating an incident which resulted in the death of two. Persons and the injury of another initial investigation suggests that siblings Kay and Japal 27 years of age and Clinton Powell, 29 years of age were at a stall on East Collect canal at approximately 11:15 AM when they were fired upon officers on patrol in the immediate area responded to this incident. The indication is that a third person, namely 40-year-old Ryan Barnett, who the indication is that he’s a suspect in that shooting incident may have been shot in the course of police’s response. Both Clinton Powell and Ryan Barnett have since succumbed to the gunshot injuries that they sustain and Kean Japal is reported to be in a stable condition. Police investigation continues.”

 

Reporter

“Would  you be able to say if this incident had any correlation to the murder of Edward Saldano that occurred last week?”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“We are not able to conclusively say so. However, that is an area that is being explored.”

 

Reporter

“Can you speak about the retrieval of the weapon as well? I understand that they had to go into the canal to, to locate the weapon.”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“I have not received any official update on that. Further information will be provided as to this investigation at the next briefing.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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