Man who allegedly shot at Police Commissioner during home invasion pleads guilty to aggravated burglary

Published by BBNTEAM at July 28, 2022

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Posted: Thursday, July 28, 2022. 2:34 pm CST.

By BBN Staff: This week, Wayne Welch, one of three men involved in a daring home invasion where Police Commissioner Chester Williams and several other officers were shot at, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court.

Welch, who appeared unrepresented before Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser, changed his not guilty plea to a guilty plea on Wednesday. He was sentenced to three years at the Belize Central Prison for the offense.

The incident occurred at 7 Days Shop located on Mahogany Street, Belize City, on the night of Sunday, January 13, 2019. Welch along with two others, Richard O’Neal, 26, and Steven Bernard, 25, entered the shop, beat up and duct taped the owner and his wife and proceeded upstairs to steal items from their home.

Police got wind of the invasion and surrounded the building and the men fired several shots at the officers, including Commissioner Williams who had responded to the call. Following the shootout the three culprits surrendered.

Bernard had appeared in court two months prior and pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and was also sentenced to three years. Meanwhile, O’Neil was kidnapped, taken to Burrell Boom village, and fatally shot, back in December of 2019.

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