Belize Police Officer Shoots Wife; Commits Suicide

BELMOPAN, Belize, November 24, 2018 (CMC) – Law enforcement officials are investigating an incident, in which one of their colleagues used his police-issued, nine millimeter pistol to kill his common law wife and then commit suicide.

The bodies of police constable, Steven Anthony Ferguson, and Josephine Hamilton were found at  their residence in Punta Gorda Town, the capital and largest town of Toledo District in southern Belize.

“Officer Ferguson was seen on the floor, motionless, with an apparent gunshot-type injury to the right temple, which apparently exited the left temple. A police-issued nine millimeter pistol was seen about a foot away from his head.

“Nearby to his body, his common-law wife, Josephine Hamilton, 30 years …of the same address, was seen in a sitting position, motionless as well. Upon examination of the scene, she was seen with several gunshot-type injuries, two to the top of the head and one towards the left eye,” said the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Myvett, who is also head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch.

The police said that the incident occurred, on Wednesday night, and residents in the area reported that the couple had been engaged in a confrontation and that the killings took place in the presence of their children.