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Jomarie Lanza followed that story today:

This was the scene last night at 10:30 on Branch Mouth Road in San Ignacio as Joseph Budna - who'd been shot two times - to the knee and buttocks - frantically called an ambulance for his companion - an alleged minor - who lay dying on his bedroom floor.

As many as 10 bullet holes can be seen heavily concentrated near his bedroom window from the outside. Indicating that someone was watching the duo and planning the hit.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Information was gathered that two personS were shot, one of those persons is a male adult and the other is presumably a minor and I say presumably because we have not been able to get the proper identification for the second person. Those persons were taken to the hospital displaying varying degrees of gunshot injuries. The adult was treated and released while the minor. The person presumed to be a minor succumbed to injuries received. In interviewing the adult in this case the adult is saying that him and this person who is believed to be a minor were in bed lying listening to some mellow music when gunshots were heard and him and the other person were injured. He further went on to disclose that he believed that the shooting was done by another person who he alleged wanted to engage in sexual activity with him for a certain sum of money but he do not have that amount of money so he declined that offer and nonetheless he end up in bed with this other person who is believed to be a minor."

And while there is a homicide and a gunman being sought, according to the Commissioner, they are also trying to determine the identity of the minor and whether he is within the age of consent.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"At this time we are still investigating the matter to ascertain what really happens and to see if there is any possibility that charges can be brought against the adult. Again it will be based on age of this person. What we are gathering is that the person may be 16 If it is of 16 years then he would be within the age of consent. If he is below 16 then he would fall outside the range of consent and so then we would be able to Look and bring charges against the male adult in this particular case."

Jules Vasquez
"Is the particulars of the minor the alleged minor are the particulars yet known?"

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"No at this time we are still trying to confirm who he is we are just getting information that it's a minor but my thing is how do we know it's a minor and we don't even know who the person is so we are hoping that we will be able to get a proper identification today and we will be able to determine if in fact he is a minor."

Although details are scarce surrounding who the teenager is and how he ended up in the company of Budna, suspicious centers around Joseph Budna himself due to his checkered past:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"This is the activity of this individual, the adult male in this particular instance luring minors to engage in sexual activities. And I mean make minors not female so it's something that we are looking at."

"Certainly Yes we have been looking at this individual and the last time the police went after him it was you the members of the public who vilified the police. For going after him but again it goes to show that when we do target these people and they run to you the media you tend to go on their side against us. At the end of the day like what Jules will say we look for what is more sensational. And the allegations against the police may have been more sensational to you so you all took his side. And now here you are now clamoring for us to do something about him but certainly we will do what can be done within the limits of the law to investigate and if there is any evidence of wrongdoing on his part I can assure you and the public that we will take or will act accordingly."

The always visible Budna has been in trouble with Belize and Guatemalan police many times before - and in 2019 he escaped from a 25 year prison sentence he was serving in that country for kidnapping.

We did try to speak to Budna who would only tell us that he and the young man were not in bed together. He said the young man is a friend who would come visit him from time to time. He was unable to confirm the young man's last name.