The music world is today mourning the death of rising Belizean artist Anfernee “Big Bang Manifest” Pollard, who was murdered in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, during an alleged domestic dispute. Big Bang Manifest is the brother of former Belize City Deputy Mayor Allan Pollard.
Pollard, who was just 31, and a woman (Briana) both lost their lives in the tragic incident. A 10-year-old child inside the house alerted the police about the shooting. Police in Las Vegas reportedly are now in pursuit of a fugitive named Jacob Charles, who is thought to be Briana’s ex-partner and the alleged triggerman.
His manager, Jamaica-born, Chicago-based Neville Muir, who confirmed Pollard’s death, told the Caribbean National Weekly that Pollard’s musical aspirations went far beyond just achieving fame in Belize.
“I signed him last September,” Muir exclaimed. “He had worked with dancehall producer Rvssian for a project with Interscope Records, and we were working on new material for a new album. He had gone to Los Angeles to wrap up a collaboration before heading to Las Vegas. He was on the brink of something great. The music he was working on was deeply personal and dealt with topics about street life and survival,” Muir added.
“I lost one of the biggest talents… I don’t even know, to be honest. I don’t even know. It is rough,” Muir confessed.
He recounted numerous conversations he had with recently deceased reggae legend Sly Dunbar about releasing new songs for Big Bang.
“The advice he gave me was not to rush the artist. Put out the songs at the right time because he has a unique sound and a groove,” Sly told me. “When he walked in a room, everybody had to look up, as he has the biggest voice. I called it a preacher’s voice,” Muir said.
News of Pollard’s death spread like wildfire among music fans on social media, where he had been building a name for himself. Based in Chicago, Big Bang represented a fresh wave of Belizean talent eager to share their sound with the world. He has collaborated with fellow Belizean artist King Kosa.
For Belize, the untimely death of Big Bang means losing a young ambassador of its evolving music. As investigations unfold in Las Vegas, hopefully Big Bang Manifest’s unfinished work will serve as a reminder of a dream cut short.
