A man was shot dead on Hay Street on Monday night following a card game, police reported. Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle said officers responding to reports of gunshots found a 19-year-old in the street with gunshot injuries to "his face". He said based on preliminary reports the man was gambling with six other people in the hallway of an apartment complex around 10 p.m.

"We are not certain whether the gambling game is [related] to his death or something else, but we appeal to those people who were a part of the game to reach out to us and help us to advance this investigation."

The shooting marks the third murder in a week and the eighth murder for the month. It is the 83rd murder for 2015. This time last year there were 65 murders. This means there has been a 27.69 percent increase in murders this year.

In recent months, police have expressed concern about the high number of murders and have called on the Bahamian public to get more involved in the crime fight.

"We cannot do this alone," Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said last week.

"We're asking for people to reach out to us. We will hold your information close to our chests.

"Reach out, let's hold hands and make this country a safer place."

Earlier this month, Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage announced that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $20 million loan to the government to help fund the fight against crime. He said access to the funds is the "most important event" in the crime fight in recent times.

Nottage said together with the IDB, the government came up with several crime-fighting strategies that include targeting at-risk youth, strengthening the justice system and improving reintegration programs.

While police statistics have pointed to a reduction in crime overall over last year, The Bahamas appears on pace to exceed the record murder count in 2011 of 127.

This same time in 2011, there were 76 murders.

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