And while that shooting appears to be the result of gang warfare, a petty case of theft almost turned deadly for a defenseless food vendor today.
The 58 year old was held up at gunpoint and robbed of her meager daily earnings.
It happened a little after one this afternoon on Caesar Ridge road at the entrance of the Port of Belize.
Food Vender Maria Lopez told 7news two men came up to her stall and ordered 2 plates of rice and beans and before she knew it, a third man came with a gun and demanded her money. She told us what happened next:
Maria Lopez - Food Vendor Robbed
"I sell rice and beans everyday here. 2 men came and ordered 2 plates of rice and beans from me. So I started to serve them, when another person came and ordered 2 more plates. While taking out the first two plates, one of them came on my right-hand side, and grabbed me by my arms. And he put a gun to my stomach, and the other man took away my money. So I started to hit him with the spoon that I use to take out the rice and beans, when somebody shouted, 'Leave her alone.' Then they ran away, they fired a shot, but I don't know where because I fainted."
Lopez has been selling food in that area for over 4 years. She told us this isn't the first time she has been robbed.
Reports were that a shot was fired, but if it was, Lopez was oblivious to it, because she had already fainted away...
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