_{Justin Animo, deceased}

By Charles Gladden

LORDS BANK, Belize District, Wed. July 30, 2025

A 20-year-old man passed away hours after being wounded when shots were fired at him and a group of men with whom he had been socializing in the Lords Bank community on Tuesday, July 29.

According to police, the victim, Justin Animo, 20, was one of five males—including 20-year-old Emerson Jeffords, 21-year-old Jose Rodriguez, 21-year-old Jayden Martinez, and a 14-year-old male minor—who had been socializing in a yard in the village after 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, when two men on a motorcycle approached them and fired multiple gunshots in their direction. The gunmen then fled the scene.

The five injured young men were taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment. The minor has been released, while Rodriguez, Jeffords, and Martinez remain hospitalized and are all reportedly in a stable condition. However, Animo lost his life as a result of the incident.

One person suspected of involvement in the shooting is in police custody, confirmed the Commissioner of Police, Dr. Richard Rosado. He also mentioned that police are seeking two other men who they believe were involved in the shooting.

“We are looking at different theories, and one of them is domestic-related,” said ComPol Rosado. “From the information we have gathered, it was a small-caliber firearm that was used. We have ruled out that they’re not associated with, or a member of any criminal group, and they have never been detained or arrested by police,” he added.

The deceased, Justin Animo, was the intended target, said Commissioner Rosado.

“I believe the individual they were looking for was socializing with other individuals when the incident happened,” he said.