The San Pedro Police Department is investigating a double murder that took place today, Sunday, June 23, 2019, on Ambergris Caye. Confirmed dead are local tour guide 53-year-old Mario Nestor Graniel Jr. 53yrs and American National 53-year-old Gary Paul Swank.
Police report of visiting an area on the lagoon located one mile west of San Pedro Town where upon arrival saw a light purple and black skiff with registration number BZ-1427 name JOHNNIE G. Inside the skiff was the lifeless body of Mario Nestor Graniel Jr., Belizean Tour Guide of Boca Del Rio Area San Pedro Town. He was in a fetal position behind the steering wheel of the skiff with two apparent gunshot the the right lower foot, one apparent gunshot wound to the right upper chest and one apparent gunshot wound to the right side of the face above the right eye.
Also seen was the lifeless body of American Gary Paul Swank floating face down in the lagoon about 30 feet away from the skiff with one apparent gunshot wound to the right upper chest, one apparent gunshot wound to the right cheek, one apparent gunshot to the left arm and one apparent gunshot to the left lower back.
Initial police investigation revealed that on Sunday, June 23, 2019, about 10:00a.m. Mario Graniel and Gary Paul Swank went to fly fishing within the Sam Pedro Town lagoon when a dark color skiff passed by and open fire on the boat Mario Graniel and Gary Paul Swank.
The site was processed by SOC technician where one 9mm Agular brand expended shell was found. The lifeless bodied were taken to the San Pedro Poly clinic where Gary Paul Swank was pronounced dead at 2:45pm and Mario Graniel was pronounced dead at 2:46pm by Dr. Joshua Canul. The lifeless bodied were the transported to the Belize City morgue where they await a post mortem examination.
