Immigration employee killed in downtown ride-by

By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 15, 2026
Kiffer McKenzie, 29, an employee of the Nationality and Passports Department, was shot dead inside his SUV as he drove through downtown Belize City with his children around 10 o’clock Saturday morning, June 13.
An unknown gunman on a bicycle opened fire on McKenzie at the Market Square intersection of Albert and Orange Streets. The children in the vehicle thankfully escaped injury, while a mortally wounded McKenzie managed to continue driving along Albert Street as far as the old Scotiabank building, where he crashed into a car parked in front of Atlantic Bank.
The police responded swiftly and rushed McKenzie to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
McKenzie was an avid football and basketball player, playing in the Conscious Youth Development Program (CYDP) Peace Cup football tournament, which later became the William Dawson Peace Cup. He also played in the Sprite “Live Life” basketball tournament organized by the Police Department and the Leadership Intervention Unit (LIU), which was renamed the William Dawson tournament after William Dawson’s passing in 2023.
This tragedy was particularly devastating for McKenzie’s family, as he was about to celebrate his daughter’s birthday, which his children did not get to enjoy. They will remember him as a dedicated father who worked hard to give his family a better life.
His older brother, George McKenzie, Jr, was stabbed to death at a soca concert in August 2016, following the death 9 years earlier of his father, George “Junie Balls” McKenzie, who was shot dead in August 2007.
The Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour has issued a statement expressing condolences to McKenzie’s family, friends, and colleagues during their time of grief:
“On behalf of Hon. Kareem Musa, CEO Tanya Santos, Team Belize Immigration and the entire Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour, we extend our deepest condolences to Kiffer’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
“Kiffer’s commitment to public service, his professionalism, and his presence within our Ministry family will be remembered with respect and gratitude. As we mourn this loss, we stand in solidarity with all those affected, and keep his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.
“Team Belize Immigration and the entire Ministry family mourns this loss and joins in honouring the life and service of Kiffer McKenzie,” the Ministry stated.