The man who was killed yesterday morning was previously charged with murder and wanted for attempted murder up to the time of his death, according to police.  Deslin Nichols, 28, who was also known as "Limbo", was shot about the body shortly before 7 a.m. while sitting in his car at Florida Court, off Balfour Avenue, police said.

Nichols was previously charged with murder in 2005 after being on the run for nearly three years.  He was accused of the 2002 murder of Kirk "Tank Dog" Ferguson along with Randino Pratt and they were on the police most wanted list.  Police also issued an all points bulletin for Nichols in May.  He was wanted for questioning in connection with a shooting that took place that month.

And while police investigate the circumstances that led to the Nichols' murder, his family expressed sorrow and anger at his killing, claiming that an hour passed between the time calls were made to police and the time officers responded.  However, police officials disputed this claim.  Police said the call about the shooting came into police control room at 6:46 a.m. and officers arrived at the scene at 6:52 a.m.

"They just left him there," said a woman at the scene who knew Nichols but did not wish to be named.  "If they had come when we called, he could have been saved." Bishop Walter Hanchell, who came to the scene and comforted the family, said the family is "shocked and outraged".

"The family feels as though something was not done properly.  But, officers said they followed protocol," he added.  Nichols' killing is the 76th murder recorded for the year.  "These senseless killings must come to a stop.  The Bahamas was once a peaceful country and now it's one of the most bloody and violent nations on the earth," said Hanchell.

"That doesn't speak well for us.  And I am appealing to Bahamians to stop this killing.  Stop the murder.  Stop taking the law into your own hands.  This vigilante justice must come to an end."  Hanchell said he thinks the murder count continues to rise because people have lost faith in the justice system.

"[Murderers] believe that they could commit these murders and get off scot-free.  There are only four men remaining on death row.  We've had over 300 murders over the last couple of years and nobody has been hanged.  That is wrong and I'm calling on the politicians, the prime minister and all of his colleagues to please deal with this matter swiftly," Hanchell said.

The government promised to bring to Parliament a 'Death Penalty Bill' before the summer recess.  However, Parliament adjourned earlier this month without the bill being brought forward.  The proposed legislation would define the various categories of murder.  It is unclear when the government will bring the bill forward.  Parliament re-opens October 5.

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