Double murder in La Isla Bonita

Police detain 4 for questioning, but killers still at large in San Pedro double murder

By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 29, 2026

   San Pedro police have detained 4 individuals in their investigation of the double murder of security guard Daniel Jones and businessman Yahya Mohamed Harmouch, a.k.a. “David,” which occurred in an armed attack at the recently reopened Island Supermarket in the Tres Cocos area of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye around 9 o’clock on Sunday night, June 28.

   A San Pedro Sun report said that “four armed men stormed Island Supermarket and opened fire on David Harmouch, Iman Harmouch, Ahmad Harmouch, and security guard Daniel Jones.” 

   Both Iman and Ahmad were injured in the incident, but are reportedly in stable condition at the hospital. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero informed the media on Monday that their initial findings are that the burglar/killers escaped in a boat.

   However, the Sun also reported that ACP Romero had observed that “Nothing was stolen from the supermarket,” and that police are pursuing several leads, including the fact that Harmouch had some pending civil court matters.

   David Harmouch, the murdered store owner, was well known on the island, while Daniel Jones was employed as a security guard at the store. Islanders remember him best as a teacher at Holy Cross Anglican School, before he took up security work. Jones was also well regarded by Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Tracy Panton, who (quoting the Sun) said he was “a former delegate of the UDP Belize Rural South Executive Committee.”

   Island Supermarket has an unfortunate history, as it was previously targeted by burglars on December 14, 2025, when the store was set on fire, destroying most of the inventory. After refurbishment, the store recently reopened on June 22, just a week before this latest attack.

(AMANDALA Ed. Note: There is a disturbing trend of impunity in violent crimes being committed in Belize. On one hand, there is the question of “hired assassins”, sometimes even by seemingly respectable members of society; and then there is the difficulty of prosecution, where witnesses are reluctant to testify in court due to fear for their own lives.)