By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
A MAN on bail being electronically monitored became the country’s latest murder victim after he was shot in the head, execution style, on Wednesday night in Saxon’s Way, Mason’s Addition.
According to reports, the deceased, who The Tribune understands is 20-year-old Clarence Coakley, aka “Drops”, was sitting at the back of a home around 9:30pm when a man, armed with a handgun, approached and shot him in the back of the head before fleeing the area on foot. Coakley was pronounced dead at the scene.
In response to the number of murders in New Providence over the past few weeks, the Royal Bahamas Police Force conducted several walkabouts in inner city communities with the latest yesterday afternoon in Mason’s Addition.
Superintendent Stephen Dean, director of the Crime Prevention Office, said the walkabout was intended to reassure residents in the area of the police’s commitment to reduce crime.
“The walkabout was conducted by the Central Division, led by Superintendent Deleveaux. The officers went door-to-door as a follow up to the homicide last night and to let the residents know that the police will do everything they can to ensure their safety,” Supt Dean said.
“The Central Division was supplemented by several Urban Renewal officers who also went door-to-door to offer counselling to anyone. Officers also increased security in the area. In addition we also decided to highlight the government’s approach on crime. We sent over 100 police officers in high crime areas with over 70 patrol cars specifically in areas where there were a high number of shootings and murders.
“So the officers went to Englerston, Bain Town, Kemp Road, Pinewood and Nassau Village. We are flooding those areas with patrol cars. We gave our officers specific instructions to identify prolific offenders, those who are on bail for murder and other serious crimes. They will check and see what they are doing, paying them a visit to ensure they are on the straight and narrow.
“They will also look out for those persons who they suspect are mixed up in crime. We believe that increased police presence in these different communities can assist in reducing the fear of crime.”
This latest incident comes a day after National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage said crime figures, including murder, are down. He said men between the ages of 15 to 25 are responsible for the majority of the violent crimes in the country, including murder.
Comments
OneTrueBahamian 9 years, 11 months ago
I see the unofficial justice system in this country is alive and well
At least these guys are able to track down and punish criminals, unlike our joke of a police "force"
Keep up those highly useful "walkabouts" boys, you're really earning your $15K a year
Honestman 9 years, 11 months ago
The sad reality is that most of these young gangbangers are safer locked up in Fox Hill than they are out on the streets.
Bahamianpride 9 years, 11 months ago
Live by the sword die by the sword
sheeprunner12 9 years, 11 months ago
.......and another one bites the dust............ and another one............. SMH
BahamianAway 9 years, 11 months ago
WILD WILD WEST....rounding them up dead or alive, though it seems more dead than anything else. LOL!!!
John 9 years, 11 months ago
To all who commented above: if it was vigilante justice in effect, you would actually see the number of 'execution styled' assassinations decrease and the number of homicides (and crime) overall decrease. What we are probably seeing is a tit for tat, where one person from one side, or gang is being killed and then there is a retaliation killing. Many persons who have been 'executed' have never themselves committed murder, they just got caught up in gang activity before the knew the real consequences of their action. Some gangs do not allow members to quit and persons who try to leave are executed. It is never a good thing to celebrate a murder, regardless of who the victim is.
BahamianAway 9 years, 11 months ago
It's not a murder celebration however if you live a life of crime and lawlessness and you meet a death in such a manner as you lived whose to blame but you.
As Bahamian Pride said "live by the sword, die by the sword". And I personally find myself hard-pressed to feel sympathy when someone who is involved in heinous criminal activities is murdered. Not saying this is the case here but I am speaking in general regards to the latest series of retaliation murders.
Furthermore in this day and age I do not believe anyone who gets involved in gangs and such situations are not aware of the consequences to their actions. Maybe they are hoping they are bad man/woman enough to be the one to beat before they get beat. But to say they are ignorant of gang related consequences is very silly on your part. I knew the consequences of joining a gang back in the nineties and I attended private school. Imagine now and these children in public...they know dern well what they are doing.
misunderstoodyoungbahamian 9 years, 11 months ago
I agree, i have lost two friends recently to this type of senseless killing and in their cases one simply had the misfortune of being the sibling of someone who decided that sex money and murder would be his mantra and the other was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately we live in a nation where some young men have no respect for life, no morals and no positive ambition in life... all of this coupled with the fact some of them feel that it is easier to find a gun to take a life than spend a few minutes trying to resolve issues through communication.
BahamianAway 9 years, 11 months ago
I cannot speak for anyone but myself but I know I don't associate with known criminals. My mother always told me you are known by the company that you keep. I am not looking to be hemmed up because someone assumes I have knowledge of criminal acts. Furthermore I don't hang out in places known to be dangerous, and I am well aware of my surroundings. From I attend a party and realize the crowd is becoming unruly or things seem to be headed towards something that makes me feel uncomfortable I am leaving. I can't tell you how many times I have left an event because I didn't feel comfortable and later heard there was a shooting or something.
Again I can't speak to this young man's situation, he might have just been in a game with friends that took a wrong turn. The point I am trying to make is the young people today have no head for avoiding confrontations. In fact they look for situations to escalate and give them a chance to show how bad they are.
People need to exercise common sense and learn that violence is not the way to resolve issues. Sometimes walking away is a better option than not living to see another day. I know my friends laugh when I say I would walk away from a fight.
FattCatt 9 years, 11 months ago
What a mess.
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Purcell 9 years, 11 months ago
"those who are on bail for murder and other serious crimes, paying them a visit to ensure they are on the straight and narrow. " WTF???
John 9 years, 11 months ago
The difference here between you and them is that, if you were fortunate enough to attend a private school, you obviously did not live in the inner city where gang activity is prevalent. Young boys 12,13,14 year olds are recruited and promised rewards, money and protection for joining a gang. At that age they are not fully aware of how gangs operate or all the activity they are involved in. In fact, at that age they still keep 'friends' with persons who have joined other gangs. Many are introduced to alcohol and drugs and this is when they become unruly at home (especially in single parent homes) and lose interest in school work. Quite a number fail classes or drop out, some to sell drugs on a street corner. Then a few years later they are required to do a criminal act and if they refused, they are executed. Gangs keep their members in check by making them dirty (crime wise) and having skeletons in their closets. Some young men even go to the family islands to try escape the gang activity, but as soon as they set foot back in Nassau they are executed. And it is true that many persons who are 'executed' have prior criminal records. This is because they were involved in a gang but once they try to get out they are killed. So this is where the authorities need to get involved: in the junior high schools (and even earlier) and educate youngsters about the consequences of gangs. This is demonic activity, where satan draws our youth to what appears to be a harmless group of young men (boys). But the door is shut and bolted behind them. Once they get older they are required to carry out his work. If they refuse, they pay with their life. And this is ok with you.
John 9 years, 11 months ago
maybe I missed your point
pat242 9 years, 11 months ago
the mere fact that he was on bail and being EM says the police is doing their job......police do not grant bail or control the court system or have any control on morality or how people behave. your police need our support not called a joke.... its not an easy job going up against a man with a Ak47 with the only thing on his mind after marijuana or crack is no reasoning at all. its hard; every day the RBPF deploy YOUR brothers , sisters, aunts uncles, fathers, nieces, nephews, grand mothers, grand fathers, god fathers, god mothers, and1&2&&3&4&5&6&&8&9 cousins all in an effort to fight crime.......... no its no joke and the RBPF is no joke.....crime is destroying the very fabric of the is country ...its all our problem. If there's no RBPF then what do we have?...... Bahamian, Police and Proud and for the record i would rather die for you while doing my job than to ever call you a joke.
BahamianAway 9 years, 11 months ago
John it is beside the point that I didn't grow up in Bain Town or on Kemp Road, to say that these young people are unaware of the consequences related to joining gangs give them no credit. With all the media exposure and the general debauchery going on in Nassau these days youngsters know.
Furthermore it isn't the responsibility of authorities to educate young people on the consequences of joining gangs, that is a parents job. To place that responsibility on authorities is unfair and only gives parents an out and excuse when their children become out of hand.
John 9 years, 11 months ago
First of all, while it may not be the government's responsibility to educate young people about gangs, this was based on other stories in this newspaper that the minister of national security had plans to use 'shock treatment' on school children who had disciplinary problems. The minister also noted that at least eighty percent of Bahamian children are growing up in single parent homes with no father figure. So if the government intends to play surrogate father to these children to some degree or at least intervene in the lives of those who may be going astray, then then need to educate them about gangs.
Secondly, to say that the fact that you did not grow up in the inner city is irrevelant is like saying there are good beaches without sand. If you are far removed from gangs and their activities, then your experience and reaction to them will be different from someone who is caught up in gang activity on a near daily basis.
Thirdly, sometime last year I posted where one of the states in the USA, decided to rid all of its jails of latino gang members because of the havoc, including killings, these persons were causing. Jets were chartered and the gang members were deported back to their country of origin. In a matter of months crime in the areas where these gang members were deported to escalated tremendously. Murder in some areas were up over 1000 percent. To make matters worse some locals were fascinated by the gang members when they arrived, all tattoed up and with body piercings so they joined these gangs, some just by tattoing the gang symbols on their bodies. When they found out how violent and brutal and lawless the gangs were, many tried to leave, only to be killed. Many went to the police for protection and had to be locked in prison cells for their own safety. When they grew wary and decided to leave jail, their body would be found in close proximity to the prison, with their throat cut from ear to ear, a clear message that they had been murdered by gang members. So don't assume someone always know the consequences of their actions.
In an update to this situation, homicides got so bad, that the police decided to call a truce with these gangs, rather than trying to suppress them. It worked for a while and homicides decreased, but now the agreement (for the truce) is starting to unravel.
BahamianAway 9 years, 11 months ago
It seems to me that you are one those people who thinks to blame everyone from themselves when things go awry.
I find it hard pressed to believe that anyone is unaware of the consequences of a life of crime. But they see the glamour and the glitter, the fast cash and loose women and to them it's worth whatever consequences.
Fact of the matter is our society is broken from the home, I along with my brother was raised by a single parent. She made ends meet and she taught us right from wrong without the need for illegal activities. Point is these parents know what's going on, but when your thirteen year old son is putting money in your hand and he has no job they turn a blind eye. Even if the 13yr old doesn't know the consequences the parent does, but why say anything when the gang activities is helping to provide for the other 5 children she may have.
All I am saying is the government cannot hold all the blame, and people need to stand up and take back the Bahamas from these criminals.
John 9 years, 11 months ago
@ BahamianAway: Obviously you have an agenda where you are attempting to misconstrue what I post with some degree of dishonesty. Show my in any of my posts where I am blaming anyone (government) for the crime problem. But nevertheless go and do some research on gangs and their activities around the world and crime and youth and you will see that the problem is not limited to the Bahamas. It is a worldwide problem. It is an organized effort to destroy our youth and the communities the live in. ANd Guess who is in charge of this order that intends to wipe out two thirds of the world's population?
. " The Devil is the father of murderers and liars (John 8:44). Satan influences people to do the unthinkable. Television shows that feature young people wounding themselves, hanging by hooks sewn into their skin from a helicopter, having ball-bearings and spikes sewn into their scalp, eating horse rectums, placing their head into a box filled with tarantulas, et cetera... this is all the Devil. Satan is the ultimate freak, predator and psycho; which is synonymous with the criminal ruling elite who are responsible for the deaths of tens-of-millions of people. Government is the leading cause of death in the world by war, failed social experiments and outright savage genocide. God is not a part of such wickedness.
Satan's purpose is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). The Devil's primary tactic is to deceive people, filling their minds with wrong thinking, false religions, false doctrines and worldly philosophies that despise and reject the Word of God. Without Jesus Christ people can become monsters. The world needs Jesus. This is why the Bible in Psalm 119:105 is referred to as a “Lamp” to guide our path throughout life. This is why Jesus told us to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES in John 5:39, which testify to us concerning Jesus Christ. The Word of God is our Sword by which we can fight the Devil (Ephesians 6:17). Through prayer temptations can be thwarted (Matthew 26:41)."
BahamianAway 9 years, 11 months ago
I believe in God and the only Bible which is Christian. I don't believe in hypocrites who hide behind scriptures and just spout them expecting just because you believe it others will.
You have to show that your life is more than just the words of the Bible...ACTIONS!!!
BahamianAway 9 years, 11 months ago
Are you reading what you post or is your head just buried in the Bible as you type nonsense. Your post clearly states where you are saying that everyone but the person committing the crime is responsible for their actions. Blame the government for not addressing the issue while they were in junior high QUOTE: " This is because they were involved in a gang but once they try to get out they are killed. So this is where the authorities need to get involved: in the junior high schools (and even earlier) and educate youngsters about the consequences of gangs."
Blame the police for placing former and current gang members within society so they don't have a choice but to join the gang QUOTE : "Thirdly, sometime last year I posted where one of the states in the USA, decided to rid all of its jails of latino gang members because of the havoc, including killings, these persons were causing. Jets were chartered and the gang members were deported back to their country of origin. In a matter of months crime in the areas where these gang members were deported to escalated tremendously. Murder in some areas were up over 1000 percent. To make matters worse some locals were fascinated by the gang members when they arrived, all tattoed up and with body piercings so they joined these gangs, some just by tattoing the gang symbols on their bodies."
I see a lot of blame circumstances but never blame yourself. I saw student failing classes does that mean I must fail to, I see other women in gay relationships should I then be gay to. We are all responsible for ourselves, and while a person may be a product of environment in some respect we still have that power to be better than our current situation.
This is what I despise about Bahamian living, blame the government, blame the teachers, blame everyone put the parent and the child.... and I further despise people who hide behind scriptures and quote them without any real purpose. In fact people like you...
/end of conversation
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