American tourist shot dead in Belize

MEXICO — The U.S. Embassy in Belize, a Central American country, confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen on Sunday and said it was closely monitoring the local investigation.

Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams told local outlet 7 News Belize on Saturday that two men had been arrested and charged with murder in the killing that occurred Friday night in San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye, a popular tourist destination.

The United States Embassy, ​​in accordance with State Department policy, did not identify the victim. However, New Orleans news outlet nola.com identified her as J’Bria Bowens, a nursing student at Louisiana State University.

Bowens was apparently hit by gunfire outside a nightclub.

“The tourist was not the intended target, she just happened to be in the line of fire between these two factions,” Williams told 7 News Belize. He said the attackers used an assault rifle and the intended target was a local gang leader.