By Belize Live News Staff: An elderly man from Guinea Grass Village in northern Belize has died following an altercation, and a 22-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter. The incident occurred on Friday night around 10 p.m., when 61-year-old Donatilo Cruz was engaged in a confrontation with Diego Santos outside a local store. According to reports, Santos allegedly pushed Cruz in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground, rendering him unconscious.
Cruz remained on the scene, unnoticed until the following morning at around 6 a.m. when a passerby found him. He was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital, where he remained in a coma. Despite medical efforts, Cruz passed away after midnight on Saturday.
Santos fled the scene but was later apprehended by police and charged with manslaughter. Authorities stated that Cruz’s body showed no visible injuries or bruises, and a post-mortem examination will confirm the exact cause of death. Investigators noted that security cameras at the store were non-functional, complicating the collection of further evidence.
