A man is dead after being shot by police in Grand Bahama on Sunday.

According to reports, shortly before 9pm, police responded to a call – where a man was attempting to break into an apartment unit armed with two cutlasses. Upon the officers’ arrival, they were approached by the man, armed with the cutlasses, who made death threats towards them. The man was instructed several times to drop the weapons, but he refused and threw one of them at the officers. The man then charged toward the officers with the cutlasses and they discharged their service weapons at the suspect, which resulted in him being shot and injured. EMS personnel attended the scene and transported the victim to the hospital, where he was examined by a doctor who pronounced him dead. Her Majesty’s Coroner has attended the scene and investigations continue.

According to reports, shortly before 9pm, police responded to a call – where a man was attempting to break into an apartment unit armed with two cutlasses. Upon the officers’ arrival, they were approached by the man, armed with the cutlasses, who made death threats towards them.

The man was instructed several times to drop the weapons, but he refused and threw one of them at the officers.

The man then charged toward the officers with the cutlasses and they discharged their service weapons at the suspect, which resulted in him being shot and injured.

EMS personnel attended the scene and transported the victim to the hospital, where he was examined by a doctor who pronounced him dead.

Her Majesty’s Coroner has attended the scene and investigations continue.

A Supreme Court judge has ruled that three men accused of killing four people and wounding seven others during a 2013 mass shooting in Fox Hill have a case to answer.

Justice Gregory Hilton made the ruling on Wednesday after the prosecution closed its case against Jermaine Curry, Peter Rolle, and Justin Williams.

Prosecutors say they are responsible for the murders of Claudezino Davis, Shaquille Demeritte, Eric Morrison and Shenique Sands on December 27, 2013. They are also accused of the attempted murders of Chino Davis, Janet Davis, John Davis, Benjamin Demeritte, Samuel Ferguson, Jermaine Pratt and Leroy Taylor.

The victims were on Freedom Park, in Fox Hill, awaiting Junkanoo results, when the occupants of a small dark vehicle opened fire on the crowd.

The prosecution's key witness admitted that he was the driver of the vehicle and he said that his passengers, the defendants, were responsible for the shooting.

Basil Cumberbatch is the prosecutor and Murrio Ducille, KC, Sonia Timothy and Stanley Rolle represent the accused.

Current statistics from the Royal Bahamas Police Force for Grand Bahama Island reveal that murder fell by some thirty-three percent, compared to last year. The statistics represent Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas (Abaco and Bimini) for the period January 1 through April 23.

The statistics compared figures from 2022 and 2023 in various categories, including crimes against a person and crimes against properties. For crimes against the person, murder in Grand Bahama (for the time period) saw a thirty-three percent decline, with three reported in 2022 (for the same period) and two this year.

While attempted murder saw a 400 percent increase, with five reported for the period January 1-April 23, 2023, compared to one in 2022, there was a fifty percent decline in rape cases, from 4 in 2022 to 2 this year. Unlawful sex crimes also saw a reduction of twenty-two percent, from nine for the period.

Armed robbery saw a fifty percent decline thus far this year, from six reported for the same period in 2022 to three this year. There were no robberies reported for the period of January 1-April 23 this year. In total, crimes against the person overall saw a thirty percent decline, from 27 in 2022 (for the period) to 19 this year (for the same period).

Stats for crimes against properties show that there were reductions in four of six categories. Stealing from vehicles saw a ninety-three percent decline, from 14 in 2022 to one in 2023. Shop-breaking saw a 42 percent decline, from 31 in 2022 to 18 thus far this year.

Housebreaking had a twenty-one percent decline from 2022, compared to 2023, with 24 housebreakings committed in the first quarter of 2022 and 19 for the same period this year. Stealing was slightly behind, with a twenty-two percent decrease, with 49 last year and 38 this year for the first period of the year. Burglary had a fifty percent increase thus far for the year, with three cases reported by the police, compared to two the same time last year. 

Overall, crimes against property saw a thirty-three percent decline this year, compared to last year, with 124 committed in 2022 (first quarter) and eighty-three committed for the first quarter of this year.

Commissioner of Police, Clayton Fernander, during a recent press briefing, noted that crime in The Bahamas overall fell by 28 percent, compared to the same period in 2022.

“I would like to calm the public at this time and reassure everyone in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas that we, the police, are doing everything within our power to keep the public safe while preventing and solving crime,” Fernander said.

 

Current statistics from the Royal Bahamas Police Force for Grand Bahama Island reveal that murder fell by some thirty-three percent, compared to last year. The statistics represent Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas (Abaco and Bimini) for the period January 1 through April 23. The statistics compared figures from 2022 and 2023 in various categories, including crimes against a person and crimes against properties. For crimes against the person, murder in Grand Bahama (for the time period) saw a thirty-three percent decline, with three reported in 2022 (for the same period) and two this year. While attempted murder saw a 400 percent increase, with five reported for the period January 1-April 23, 2023, compared to one in 2022, there was a fifty percent decline in rape cases, from 4 in 2022 to 2 this year. Unlawful sex crimes also saw a reduction of twenty-two percent, from nine for the period. Armed robbery saw a fifty percent decline thus far this year, from six reported for the same period in 2022 to three this year. There were no robberies reported for the period of January 1-April 23 this year. In total, crimes against the person overall saw a thirty percent decline, from 27 in 2022 (for the period) to 19 this year (for the same period). Stats for crimes against properties show that there were reductions in four of six categories. Stealing from vehicles saw a ninety-three percent decline, from 14 in 2022 to one in 2023. Shop-breaking saw a 42 percent decline, from 31 in 2022 to 18 thus far this year.  Housebreaking had a twenty-one percent decline from 2022, compared to 2023, with 24 housebreakings committed in the first quarter of 2022 and 19 for the same period this year. Stealing was slightly behind, with a twenty-two percent decrease, with 49 last year and 38 this year for the first period of the year. Burglary had a fifty percent increase thus far for the year, with three cases reported by the police, compared to two the same time last year.  Overall, crimes against property saw a thirty-three percent decline this year, compared to last year, with 124 committed in 2022 (first quarter) and eighty-three committed for the first quarter of this year. Commissioner of Police, Clayton Fernander, during a recent press briefing, noted that crime in The Bahamas overall fell by 28 percent, compared to the same period in 2022. “I would like to calm the public at this time and reassure everyone in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas that we, the police, are doing everything within our power to keep the public safe while preventing and solving crime,” Fernander said.

TRANSPORT and Housing Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said officials should be careful not to "speak just for speaking sake".

She was reacting to the notion that women Members of Parliament have been silent about the allegations surrounding one of their male colleagues. #“We have to be careful not to speak just for speaking sake,” she said. “Where there are allegations, there are police investigations, and the investigation should be carried out first so that everyone can speak to the true facts and the true nature of the situation.” #“I think that is what’s important as not only female MPs, but leaders, just leaders in general. It’s important for you to have the facts, have the information before you speak out towards it and bring any sort of criticism or trying to tear down one person for not doing what you think they should. Because people are careful not to make judgment, not to pass judgment, you want to have the facts and so that’s what’s important.” #Recent violence against women has sparked calls for tighter laws to address the matter. #Mrs Colbey-Davis said people must feel protected. #“I assume that the Attorney General’s office would have provided comments as it relates to the status where they are in updating legislation or providing legislation that brings closure to concerns where there may not be areas in the law that protects women,” she said. #“But as a female, as a woman, as a mother, you want to ensure that first persons feel protected; one, by the law and (two), the execution of the law. Many years ago, I used to volunteer with the Crisis Centre. I volunteered with them because I had a family member that was in a situation years ago. #“I wanted to be a voice and be a part of bringing that change. And so definitely, I do lend my voice where I can because you don’t want to see persons suffer in silence, to let them know that they have an avenue and to open that door for them to feel they can reach out, speak out, and get help.” #She said people often stay quiet because they feel they won’t get the help they deserve. #“It’s important for me to see that persons feel protected.” Mrs Coleby-Davis said. “And so, I do support amendments were necessary.”

She was reacting to the notion that women Members of Parliament have been silent about the allegations surrounding one of their male colleagues.

“We have to be careful not to speak just for speaking sake,” she said. “Where there are allegations, there are police investigations, and the investigation should be carried out first so that everyone can speak to the true facts and the true nature of the situation.”

“I think that is what’s important as not only female MPs, but leaders, just leaders in general. It’s important for you to have the facts, have the information before you speak out towards it and bring any sort of criticism or trying to tear down one person for not doing what you think they should. Because people are careful not to make judgment, not to pass judgment, you want to have the facts and so that’s what’s important.”

Recent violence against women has sparked calls for tighter laws to address the matter.

Mrs Colbey-Davis said people must feel protected.

“I assume that the Attorney General’s office would have provided comments as it relates to the status where they are in updating legislation or providing legislation that brings closure to concerns where there may not be areas in the law that protects women,” she said.

“But as a female, as a woman, as a mother, you want to ensure that first persons feel protected; one, by the law and (two), the execution of the law. Many years ago, I used to volunteer with the Crisis Centre. I volunteered with them because I had a family member that was in a situation years ago.

“I wanted to be a voice and be a part of bringing that change. And so definitely, I do lend my voice where I can because you don’t want to see persons suffer in silence, to let them know that they have an avenue and to open that door for them to feel they can reach out, speak out, and get help.”

She said people often stay quiet because they feel they won’t get the help they deserve.

“It’s important for me to see that persons feel protected.” Mrs Coleby-Davis said. “And so, I do support amendments were necessary.”