Murder, robbery and shots fired

Official Belize Police Report:

At about 6:00pm on Friday, 30 January 2009, Police in San Pedro Town received information of a shooting incident in the Rocky Point Area, North Ambergris Caye, about fifteen miles from San Pedro Town. According to the information, the suspects were making their way towards San Pedro Town in a white skiff with green and black stripes on the side, powered by a 150 hp Yamaha engine. As a result, a joint Police/BDF team was deployed to the area. Whilst travelling through the river in the Boca Del Rio Area they heard a vessel approaching in the opposite direction and upon spotting a light on the skiff, they noticed that it fitted the description they had received.
The captain was directed to stop the vessel, however, he refused. Keeping the spotlight on the vessel, the police continue in pursuit and the vessel eventually stopped. They then observed one of the two occupants of the vessels, standing with what appeared to be firearm in his hand pointing in their direction. Fearing for their lives, the police fired at the person with the firearm. This individual then jumped overboard, swam towards the mangroves and made good his escape.
Upon reaching the vessel, police found inside, one Eric Swan, with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the upper right leg, and a graze to the buttock. Also found in the vessel were, six (6) live 7.62 rounds of ammunition, camouflage pants and sea worthiness certificate in the name of Eric Swan. Swan was taken to the San Pedro Poly Clinic and later transported to the KHMH where he remains in stable condition under guard.

Eric Swan

Later in the said evening, Joseph Smith, a 31 year-old carpenter of DFC area San Pedro Town reported to police that he was held up at gun point by persons fitting the description in the same vessel, in the Rocky Point area, where they took away his two tanks of fuel leaving him drifting in his skiff. He managed to reach ashore safely.

At about 8:00am on Saturday, 31 January, Brionne Swift, 29 years, of Boca Del Rio Area, San Pedro Town reported to police that he believe that his friend John Paul Saldivar was shot, on Friday, 30 January around 4:00pm and might still be alive. As a result police visited an area about 16 miles North of Ambergris Caye, where they found a Hispanic decent male person laying face up on the seashore, with appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds and to the head and legs. The body was also observed with bruises. The body which was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Pedro Poly Clinic, was identified as John Paul Saldivar, originally of Corozal Town.

Click "PLAY" to hear an interview with Investigating officer, Sergeant Nigel Sanchez.