7 murders since Saturday

7 murders since Saturday

For the second time in less than a week, three men were murdered within the span of 24 hours. The most recent killings occurred between 9:00 p.m. Monday and 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Police confirm that one man was shot dead Tuesday evening on Cox Street in Fox Hill. That incident pushed the country’s murder count to 46 for the year.

“Sometime early Tuesday evening, a group of men was playing dominoes under a blue tent in a yard on Cox Street. A silver car pulled up to the tent and a verbal exchange between the occupants in the car and the group of men ensued,” Police Press Liaison Superintendent Shanta Knowles shared on the scene.

“The occupants in the car,” she said, “opened fire on the group of men who were seated under the tent. Two males were hit.

“One man was pronounced dead on the scene, while the other has been transported to the hospital and is listed in critical condition.”

A short time later, police informed Eyewitness News that the second mad had also succumbed to his injuries.

However, police later advised in a statement that the information they issued to the media was inaccurate.

“Police were initially informed by medical personnel that the second victim had died however, we are told that the medical team was successful in reviving him. He is in critical condition,” Knowles confirmed.

Fourteen hours before the Cox Street shooting, police were called to A.F. Adderley Junior High School to investigate another murder.

“Shortly after 4:30 a.m., a security officer at A.F. Adderley Junior High School was shot and killed. Two men approached the officer who was sitting in his vehicle, which was parked near the security booth at the school,” Knowles said.

She continued, “An altercation occurred between the men and the security guard was subsequently shot.”

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel were called to the scene to provide medical assistance however, he was pronounced dead a short time later.

His death marked the country’s 45th murder for the year.

Seven hours before that scene unfolded, police responded to a call on Step Street, Fox Hill.

Upon arrival, officers found the lifeless body of a man, according to police.

The victim has been identified as Anthony Brice, 36.

“He was walking in the front of his family home on Step Street when a dark-colored vehicle pulled up beside him,” she said.

“The occupants of the vehicle exchanged words with Brice and gunshots were heard a few moments later.

“The culprits fled the scene in a dark-colored Japanese vehicle.”

Brice’s death was tallied as murder number 44.

Despite the close proximity in time between the three murders, and even though there have been eight murders within the span of seven days, Supt. Knowles still affirmed that crime is down.

“When we compare crime statistics from this same time last year to this year, believe it or not, crime is down. We have fewer murders this year than last year for this same time span,” she shared.

“I want Bahamians to know that police are working as hard as they can to keep our communities safe and we have launched a number of aggressive crime-fighting initiatives within communities to ensure that we crack down on criminals.

“I want Bahamians to know that there is no need to be afraid, they are safe.”

About Theo Sealy

Theo Sealy is an award-winning journalist who serves as senior broadcast reporter and weekend TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. He has achieved several career milestones, including his work as a field contributor with CNN, his coverage of four consecutive general elections, his production of several docuseries and his Bahamas Press Club Awards win for “Best Television News Story” in 2018.