A dispute in Belmopan has triggered two investigations and one critical question: who fired the bullet that injured twenty-six-year-old Jaheim Thomas? Police responded to reports of an altercation in the Las Flores area on Monday night, but during that response, Thomas was shot and hospitalized. Investigators have not yet determined whether the round came from a licensed firearm holder involved in the dispute or from a responding police officer. Authorities have seized both weapons and detained both men while separate criminal and internal investigations work to establish exactly what happened.
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“Police are investigating a shooting incident which resulted in the injury of Jaheim Thomas, 26 years of age, of Ruin Creek Village. The investigation commenced on Monday, 7 September, at around 8:00 PM, when officers were called to a residence in Las Poures, Belle Maure, because of a dispute. Jaheim Thomas was injured during the course of police’s response to the incident, and at this time he’s hospitalized in a stable condition. Thus far, the investigators have not established who fired the shot that injured Mr. Thomas since the investigation has so far indicated that both a licensed by arm holder who was involved in the dispute and a police officer may have discharged their weapons. Both weapons have been seized and packaged and will be submitted for comparative analysis. Both internal and criminal investigations have commenced. It’s an ongoing investigation, and to my knowledge, the police officers responded to a report. There was no indication that there was any prior agreement or plan with the res- by the responding officer and the other person who is in detention.”
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