Last night just before 10, an ambulance rushed into the city from Orange Walk Town. Inside, Orange Walk resident Jorge Celis was hoping he didn't lose his eye after he had been shot by Sergeant of Police, Roberto Novelo.
The shooting happened last night under dubious circumstances at what you might call a bar of ill repute, the PICAME bar in Orange Walk Town.
Sergeant Novelo was with his brother Moises at PICAME where they got into a fight with three men who, police say, had all been drinking. Novelo claims that one of the men, Francisco Mendez, tried to wrest away his licensed 9mm Glock.
They struggled for control of the weapon and that's when Novelo says three shots accidentally went off.
Jorge Celis was injured with lead fragments to his eye. Novelo and his brother had the usual beat-up injuries.
Police recovered three (3) expended 9mm shells from the scene, and they also took the Sergeant's 9mm Glock pistol with twelve (12) live 9mm rounds into evidence.
Novelo has been detained and Police are looking for Francisco Mendez for questioning.
Jorge Celis has been transferred to Belize Medical Associates and declined an interview.
By police rules, Novelo should not have been in a bar drinking with his firearm, and, by the firearms law, he should not have had an exposed firearm in a public place.
Reports to us suggest that he had been drinking, but the police report is silent on whether his blood alcohol level was taken.
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