Saturday, September 27, 2014 | 7:55 AM
BELMOPAN, Belize – Gunmen, believed to be illegal Guatemalan nationals, shot and killed a 20-year-old police constable at a popular tourist destination in western Belize.
Danny Conorquie, a Special Constable assigned to the Belize Tourism Police Unit was ambushed by the men who emerged from bushes around the Caracol Archaeological site in the Cayo district.
Conorquie was one of two police officers on duty at the time of the incident on Thursday. He was shot in the head and died at the scene of the incident.
According to a government statement, two men on horseback shot at Conorquie near the main temple in full view of several tourists and tour operators. After the shooting the men fled the scene into nearby bushes.
Conorquie was rushed to the San Ignacio town hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The government statement said that additional security personnel have been deployed to the Caracol Archaeological site to ensure the safety of visitors who frequent the area and that “every effort is being made to bring those responsible to justice.
One eyewitness told reporters that a second policeman bravely rushed to the aid of his fallen colleague and was engaged in an exchange of gunfire with the murderers.
Although the government statement said there were two men on horseback, the witness, who works as a tour guide, said there were three Hispanic men, believed to be Guatemalan nationals.
The Belize Police Department Friday said that about five men stood over Conorquie’s body before fleeing into the bushes.
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BELIZE- Police officer shot and killed
