A Canadian Armed Forces veteran has been charged in connection with the death of two people during a mass shooting at a Belize nightclub.
J.R. Smith, a veteran of Afghanistan in the Royal Canadian Regiment as part of Operation Medusa in 2006, is accused of driving the getaway vehicle in the July 31 incident that also injured eight others.
Belizean police allege that three local men and Smith got in an argument over a woman in the club. Smith and his party left but returned with guns and began shooting.
Smith and the three men were arrested.
Denise Hepburn, Smith's partner, told CTV News that he was not involved in the shooting. She says that Smith was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She also says that Smith was beaten by police after his arrest, resulting in the black eye in his police photo.
"He defended this country. He is a decorated soldier," she said. "He's a good person … he would never do something like this."
Global Affairs Canada says it’s "aware of a Canadian who has been detained in Belize." Smith is in custody in a Belize prison. He is due back in court in November.
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