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Police are refusing to disclose his identity at this time, but best information to 7News is that he is 34 year-old Frank Smith, who has had past run-ins with the law. Reports are that he went to the Hislop family home on Fabers Road, where he confronted 24 year-old Dennis Hislop Jr about a horse. That led to a confrontation, where Smith allegedly pulled a weapon on Hislop. He ran away to the back of his house, and that's when a struggle endued. Police told us what happened next - and why it is not a cut and dry case:

ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City
"On Thursday, the 27th of December 2018, at about 6:25 p.m., police visited #40 Fabers Road, where they spoke to one Mr. Dennis Alexander Hislop, 24 years-old Belizean, who reported that whilst he was in front of his residence along with a friend, they were approached by 2 male persons. 1 of the persons was armed with a firearm, thereafter, a confrontation ensued between both of them. He ran to the back of his house and was pursued by the guy with the firearm. A struggle ensued between both of them, where Mr. Hislop's father came out, and as a result, he fired a shot at the male person who managed to escape through the back of the house. Thereafter, they set chase after him. Whilst at the Fabers Road area, the male person turned and fired several shots at Mr. Hislop and his son. As a result of that, at about 30 minutes later, a male person visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the right cheek and the right side of his neck. The person was admitted in a critical condition, however, he has improved, and he's now in a stable condition at the KHMH.

Reporter
"Is there any motive for the shooting at the Hislop's residence on Fabers Road Extension?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We understand that it's a dispute that happened about 2 weeks ago, and it has some relation to some horse issue between both families."

Reporter
"You have the initial aggression, and then, the two family members chased down the attacker. Does that in any way put them at fault for criminal charges?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"What we have to be cognizant of is that the incident happened in their yard, and that is where the gentleman fired his weapon to save his son because if he had not done that, probably, we'd have been telling you another story."

Reporter
"That person, is he under police guard?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes, he is under police guard."

Reporter
"And, are you able to say, since he was the aggressor, that he will be charged?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Most likely, yes."

The assailant Frank Smith's condition has been upgraded from critical to stable.