Two Bahamians killed abroad, one murdered, another struck by train

Two Bahamians killed abroad, one murdered, another struck by train

NASSAU, BAHAMAS  — A Bahamian student in Houston, Texas was shot and died in hospital last week Friday, while a Bahamian woman residing in Canada was killed in a train collision just over two weeks ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed yesterday.

Kani Rahming, a resident of Lazy Hollow, exited his apartment around 10 pm to investigate a rock that was thrown through the window when he was shot in the chest.

Judith Taylor, a Bahamian living and working in Canada, was struck by a UP Express train while she was on the rail line near Weston Road and Black Creek Drive around 6am on September 7.

Canadian authorities treated the death as “suspicious” and expect a preliminary report to be completed by the end of this week.

In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was saddened to learn of the deaths.

“The ministry officials in conjunction with the Bahamas High Commission in Ottawa will remain in contact with the family of Ms Taylor, as well as, Bahamian and Canadian police, to obtain more information and to facilitate the transshipment of Ms Taylor’s remains from Toronto to the capital,” read a statement.

As it relates to Rahming, the ministry said it was advised that police had not made an arrest in connection with the incident and the motive for the shooting remained unclear.

According to the ministry, officials will remain in contact with Rahming’s family and “stand ready to assist wherever possible”.

“The ministry requests that the public keep family and loved ones of the deceased in their prayers during this difficult and tragic time,” read the statement.

There were criticisms in some quarters that the ministry had not issued a statement on the murder of the Bahamian national in Houston soon enough.

On Monday, former Prime Minister Perry Christie’s press secretary Latrae Rahming lamented what he called the government’s silence on the death.

Yesterday, he said: “You all say I was playing politics asking the government for their statement on the murder of Bahamian student in Houston. Today, the government issued a statement. We cannot be silent on these kinds of issues.”

 

About Royston Jones Jr.

Royston Jones Jr. is a senior digital reporter and occasional TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. Since joining Eyewitness News as a digital reporter in 2018, he has done both digital and broadcast reporting, notably providing the electoral analysis for Eyewitness News’ inaugural election night coverage, “Decision Now 2021”.