Canadian Armed Forces veteran charged with murder in connection to mass shooting in Belize
A Canadian Armed Forces veteran who called New Lowell home has been charged with murder in the country of Belize.
According to police in Belize, J.R. Smith was behind the wheel of a getaway car used moments after a mass shooting at a nightclub on July 31 that left 2 dead and 8 others injured.
Smith, a retired soldier with the Canadian Armed Forces, who served in Afghanistan 15 years ago, took up woodworking at Georgian College before starting his own business, Frontline Cabinetry.
CTV News featured Smith 5 years ago ahead of Remembrance Day, as he partnered with Canadian Forces Base Borden helping retiring veterans transition to civilian life through work in skilled trades.
Smith moved to Belize about six months ago.
Belize Police describe the shooting as one of the worst in the country’s history.
Investigators believe it all started when three of Smith’s friends got into an argument with a man over a young woman in the club. According to media outlets in Belize, the three men left the club. They then returned with guns, allegedly killing the man before opening fire on several others at the club, wounding at least two police officers.
Smith was initially charged with abetment to commit murder, but the charge was upgraded to murder.
Smith is originally from Newfoundland and was based at CFB Petawawa for years. He moved to Belize after he became disillusioned with the Canadian government lockdowns, which forced him to close his business.
His partner Denise Hepburn, who spoke with CTV News Tuesday, said Smith is 100% innocent and is the victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She added that the black eye he received was from police after a plastic bag was placed over his head and he was beaten repeatedly and tortured.
Smith and his co-accused remain in custody and are back in court in early November.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.