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Photo: Clint Castillo, late
By Charles Gladden
COTTON TREE VILLAGE, CAYO DISTRICT. MONDAY, JULY 8, 2024
A State of Emergency (SOE) has been declared in Cotton Tree Village and several other villages in Cayo District to curb the ongoing crime in those areas, but it could not prevent the death of a man over the weekend.
The murder victim has been identified as 39-year-old Clint Castillo, a resident of the aforementioned village.
According to reports, around 10:30 pm on Saturday, July 6, Castillo was socializing with some men when an argument escalated into a fight and he tried to be a peacemaker between two men.
When he did so, one of the gang members pulled out a gun and shot Castillo several times, killing him instantly. The gunman then turned the gun on Andrew Muns, 32, who had been arguing with him, and shot him as well.
Castillo died at the scene and was officially pronounced dead at Western Regional Hospital. Meanwhile, Mons remains in hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the shoulder and neck and is reportedly paralyzed.
Belize Police Department Eastern District Commander ACP Hilberto Romero told the media that the men were socializing and drinking before the shooting. However, it is unclear what led to the argument between Muns and the alleged gunman.
Castillo’s family told local reporters that they were devastated by the loss of their loved one. The family said they had lost a relative earlier this year and now, just a few months later, they were facing the death of another family member. They also mentioned that they had advised Castillo to flee the village because local people wanted to harm him.
The gunman allegedly attacked Castillo two weeks before his death.
ACP Romero said one person is in custody and another is being sought.
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