Killing of Laddie Gillett
Gillett in 2021 | |
| Date | 14 July 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time | ca 9:30 pm local time |
| Location | Placencia Beach Club, Placencia, Stann Creek |
| Type | Unlawful police killing |
| Target | Two teenagers |
| Perpetrator | Two plain clothes police officers, one security guard |
| Deaths | 1 (Gillett) |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 (Palacio) |
| Convicted | 1 (Martinez) |
| Convictions | Manslaughter by negligence |
| Sentence | 18 years |
On 14 July 2021, at approximately 9:30 pm local time, in Placencia, Stann Creek, 14-year-old Laddie Gillett was shot and killed by police corporal Kareem Martinez. The incident sparked widespread protests in Belize, being popularly deemed an unlawful police killing. Martinez was found guilty of manslaughter by negligence for the killing on 21 April 2023, and sentenced to 18 years in prison.