Family members - who did not wish to be identified - pay their respects.
By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
THE family of a man who was shot dead by police last month want “justice” and alleged the 25-year-old man was wounded by officers “after he surrendered”.
The brother of Keith James Neily, who did not want to be named, said yesterday he watched his sibling take his last breath after officers gunned him down in the street “like a dog” and “left him to die”. He alleged that police prevented the family from calling an ambulance.
Police shot Neily on August 23. According to police reports, officers said he pointed a gun at them during a foot chase in the Chippingham area.
Police said they received information that a group of young men were armed with firearms in front of a home on Providence Avenue near Infant View Road.
When officers arrived, they found a group of men standing in the street, police said.
The men fled when they saw the officers. Police chased them and caught up with one who pointed a handgun at the officers.
Police, in defence of their lives, fired at the suspect, fatally shooting him, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they recovered a handgun that the man allegedly dropped to the ground.
However, residents in the area and the deceased’s family deny that he had a gun. In fact, one of Mr Neily’s relatives alleged that after police shot him twice, he fell to the ground and surrendered, but one of the officers “stood over him and shot him two other times, while he was kneeling”.
“I wasn’t there at first, I was there but I left to carry my mother some water,” his brother said. “When I left, I was walking by Major’s shop when I saw the police in the road. I looked and I saw (Neily) run out the yard. He run out the yard and the officer run after him and shot him once in the back and the leg. My brother fell and put his hands in the air and the officer came over him and shot him multiple times,” he alleged.
“The officer went over him, (Neily) was screaming ‘I don’t have anything’ but they still shoot him multiple times in his chest,” the brother alleged. “I witnessed him die. He died in my hands. He was still breathing after he got shot, I tried to lift him up but the police wouldn’t let me touch him.
“They dragged me and started beating me,” he alleged, claiming “they even beat my mother. She came there to try and help and three female officers beat her, lock her up, and then charge her. She had to pay a fine just because she was trying to get to her son, to get him to the hospital. Three policewomen beat her and she was naked in the road, my sister had to go get her clothes from home.
“The police broke the phones when we tried to record, and threatened to lock everyone up,” the relative alleged. “One of the officers said to me ‘If these people wasn’t around I would kill you just like this one on the ground’.
“My brother’s last words were ‘Bro, I didn’t do anything’. He could have lived if he got to the hospital on time but they would not let us take him. There was no gun on the scene, like they claim. No one even came to interview us and ask us what happened.”
When contacted about the family’s claims, Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said he could not respond as the matter is being investigated by the Coroner, Jeanine Weech-Gomez.
The man’s mother, Gloria Neily, was charged in Magistrates Court on Monday with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, obscene language and disorderly behaviour in connection with the incident.
She denied assaulting two police officers but pleaded guilty to the other offences. She was given six months probation after Magistrate Sabuola Swain said: “It’s a mother’s anguish and I can understand. It is the worst thing that can happen ... to watch your child die.”
Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM) President Khandi Gibson, who was with the family yesterday, said while she supports the police in most of their efforts, she cannot support officers shooting someone for no “real reason”.
“We support the police and their efforts but we do not condone this type of action. If they feel like their life is in danger and someone tried to take their life they have the right to protect themselves but right now this family wants answers and the last thing we want is a war between the citizens and the police.
“This community is broken and we do not want a cowboy city where the community is against the police we need each other to survive, we need to work together,” Ms Gibson said.
Police have shot seven suspects since August 13, five of whom have died.
Comments
TruthHurts 8 years, 7 months ago
What I fail to understand is.. if I were among st people who I had no idea were wanted by the police and the officers happened to show up on the scene. Why would I run?? If I had in fact did nothing wrong! The instinct to run, if I had not committed any crime, would not be there. I feel for the mother who witnessed the death of her son; however, these guys obviously knew why they wanted to get the hell out of dodge when the authorities arrived.
justthefactsplease 8 years, 7 months ago
And I guess the fact that he chooses to run...for what ever reason...gives the police the RIGHT to shoot him.
TruthHurts 8 years, 7 months ago
I think its part of their mandate. So provided you did run and they called out to you to stop.. and you don't, what do you think should be their next plan of action? Run them down all around Nassau after they were called there on suspicion of unauthorized firearms?
TalRussell 8 years, 7 months ago
Comrades, the media and bloggers focus on the policeman's shootings are more about the lifestyles of the victims, while we Ignore the questions left unanswered about their justifications.
The deadly consequences emulating from police shootings of civilians are too numerous for the Commish to continue to ignore.
Maybe, if the middle classes were the ones being gunned down, the outcries for answers wouldn't be as silent.
Shouldn't the poor peoples children, fathers, uncles and brothers, matter equally so.
Wait your turn for a policeman's bullets with your loved ones names personalized on them, you snug Blair Estates, Sears Edition and Easter Road residents.
Sickened 8 years, 7 months ago
Oh Tal. The middle class are too educated to hang around in the streets with guns and too smart to run from police for no good reason. These people are lower class for a reason. They are poorly educated (thanks government) and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for them (thanks again government). If kids worked for a living they wouldn't be outside showing off their guns to each other. But don't you worry. The middle class will be all but gone in 5 years and you will only have those behind the gates and those outside the gates.
Sickened 8 years, 7 months ago
I would like to hear the story from the neighbour that called the police in the first place. I'm sure that they know these kids and watched what happened.
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
@TruthHurts-Idon't know what world you're living in, but the police DOES NOT have the right to shoot anyone simply because that person runs. This is one of the main causes of all the riots in America today. Police are killing young black men without any recourse. If this is the course of action we are taking to get criminals off the street, then we might as well board up all of the courts and everyone needs to take to the streets and start killing any suspected criminal like they do in Haiti and Jamaica...SMFH!!!
TruthHurts 8 years, 7 months ago
"The men fled when they saw the officers. Police chased them and caught up with one who pointed a handgun at the officers.
Police, in defence of their lives, fired at the suspect, fatally shooting him, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) said."
FYI.. what article did you read? I am referring to the story and the facts stated within ( as reported by the Tribune). I stated and I quote that.. "I think that is their mandate", which I do not know for sure that it is. But if you as a policeman was called to a scene where it is presumed that guys are standing in the street armed what the hell would you expect upon arriving? Again, if they were not guilty of doing anything then why run??? This is the question that I posed. So I don't know where you were coming from stating that I'm not being realistic when you yourself clearly live in a bubble! My whole thought process is on the fact that if they are innocent DO NOT RUN FROM THE POLICE!
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
The facts are that the police said that the man ran and pointed a weapon at them, the community says its a lie. Why run you asked??? The average black Bahamian male has heard many horror stories about being beaten to a pulp while in police custody. The average black Bahamian male knows that people like you exist in society, who see him as a criminal just because he lives in a poor community and stands on the streets. The average black Bahamian male knows that people like you would side with the police and not care about hearing the truth, just because you want someone to blame for the escalating crime. I can go on and on. Now tell me, if you were the average black Bahamian male, wouldn't you haul ass?????? So in actuality, you are the one living in a bubble. You are in denial. The RBPF is far from perfect. And yes, I am just as tired of the crime crisis as the other person, and I do support the police. However, there have been many instances where the police have used deadly force and blamed it in on the victim having a weapon or some other story. While I am not taking side with the guy who was gunned down, I am not taking side with the police either. You made it an issue by questioning the motive of the young man who was gunned down, as if to say "he mussy was guilty das why he run"
spoitier 8 years, 7 months ago
Spot on
My2cents 8 years, 7 months ago
There is really not that many police involved shootings to label the entire department corrupt.
I never said his running justified him being shot. Not following police orders gave way for their interpretation of the situation. His pointing a gun at them did not help either. If the police are expected to retreat when suspects run away...then the criminals have won.
BahamaPundit 8 years, 7 months ago
The Press, you can't have it both ways! For weeks, you have been reporting crime is out of control and the Police need to crack down using draconian methods. Now, you are implying the Police are using too much force and acting heavy handed. Are you schizophrenic? We all know that if the Police crack down, there will be accidents involved. Support the Police and their efforts, as they risk their lives for us each day. You blame politicians for flip flopping, but you are acting in much the same way. Or, are you just looking to ponyback on the US Black Lives Matter movement, eventhough we live in a majority black country? Make up your mind. Are you realy for defeating crime or just looking for a story? We all know criminals run this town and restoring peace to the streets will take a concerted effort of The Press and Police working together to change the status quo -- which is to do nothing and watch The Bahamas burn.
TalRussell 8 years, 7 months ago
Comrades, if you study basic human behavior - fear - you will understand why guilty and the not so guilty adults and young people, from all racial and economic classes and divides. run away from policeman's. If you understand the one reason why policeman's shoot poor people, is because there is little to no downside to it.
Maybe I missed it but i don't think the Commish, has even bothered to address the most recent tidal wave policeman's shootings.
The_Oracle 8 years, 7 months ago
This is what happens when you discard your standards, both personal and professional. Crime gets out of control, and the police respond to it as they will. The Bahamas was warned back in the 70's, at a police/law enforcement conference in Jamaica. B.K. Bonamy brought the message home, and it was ignored. It is too late to simply reinstate the old rules, those rules were designed to maintain law and order, not restore law and order. The innocent will always pay, along with the guilty. Vigilantism romanticized is the good guy taking the law into his own hands, what do you call it when your sub-culture is killing each other off? When your police force participates? Makes the truth hard to find.
xtreme2x 8 years, 7 months ago
Is it a crime to RUN?
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
Apparently, according to TruthHurts!
My2cents 8 years, 7 months ago
Yes, it is a crime to resist arrest. If not under arrest, why run? The officers have every right to give chase and act accordingly.
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
Acting in accordance with the law is not shooting the suspect. No matter how the cat jump, shooting someone who is unarmed is unlawful. Not saying that is what happened in this situation but it is the issue everyone seems to be dwelling on.
TruthHurts 8 years, 7 months ago
There are no words...it's folks like you why this country is the way it is. Furthermore, I don't know anyone in their right mind that would run from the police as you've said. You make folks who live in poorer areas look like folks. There are people ( some of my relatives) that speak of these guys doing petty theft and hanging out on the blocks. How is it, that the folks I know have never made the news in their lives but live amongst those that seem to always have run in with the police officials. You're making no sense! I'm done with your retarded a##!!
TruthHurts 8 years, 7 months ago
And by the way.. don't reference my name in relation to or in retaliation of your daft arguments and illogical reasoning! Goodbye!
My2cents 8 years, 7 months ago
Acting accordingly means the officers used their best judgement to first and foremost protect their lives, innocent bystanders and (if possible), the perpetrator who behaved contrary to police orders. An officer cannot tell whether a suspect has a gun or not if he cannot see the suspect's hands or if they are moving.
Knowing that there would be a coroner's inquest into such cases, I doubt an officer would put their freedom and livelihood at risk. So I will always give the officer's the benefit of the doubt.
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
Fine, let's go with that. But what about the other cases that proved that the police did not act within the law? Here you are making it seem as if the Coroner's office and all the other procedures following are flawless and are not corrupt. The Bahamas is the most corrupt place on the planet where nothing is what it seems. If the RBPF was serious about holding its officers accountable, it would allow an independent body to investigate any questionable behaviors of its officer and not members of the force investigating members of the force.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
There are some communities in Nassau and the Family Islands who are anti-police ........ it does not matter what you do you will never get them to support law and order ... that is a serious social problem ................. and the question to ask is: Is UR2.0 changing that attitude??
concernedcitizen 8 years, 7 months ago
Simple ,,as long as women continue to have 3 to 5 children for 2 to 3 different dead beat dads and verbal and physically beat the sh@t out of them ,teaching violence as conflict resolution crime and will violence will increase from both the criminals and the police .
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 7 months ago
Just another one killed by the failed social and economic policies of the corrupt Christie-led PLP government. Many, many many more to follow.
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
@TruthHurts-If your sorry arse cannot take the chafing then stay off these public forums. Its as simple as that. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. You are a typical ni--ar who throw a hissy when he can't have his way. By the way, since this is a public forum, I can use your name in reference to an argument if I like, as long as it does not defame your name. What the f--- am I talkin' bout? Dat even ain your real name. Try hard go cool ya arse down and rest ya nerve. Then come back and talk sense. And what is this talk about 'folks'? You does watch too much cartoon ay????
Sickened 8 years, 7 months ago
Talk about hissy fit! Damn!
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
LOl..Pot callin kettle black ay?
TruePeople 8 years, 7 months ago
'Police say' is an issue, and many are right to point out that that in and of itself is not due justification for everything, yet it is accepted by many as an ultimate truth. People always always always forget that police are people too. and criminals are people too. The way y'all is carry on is like the world is black and white.
Tal is right that these need to be investigated, and done so properly, not just saying that some commish is working on it.... which is like all the other lies the gov't tells us... a lie.....
What kill me doe is how they bad up the mother and the people in the community. Break up they phone and thing. Bey i seen cops do that already, dats why i ein know why people is so quick to side with PEOPLE just because they are COPS.... they are still people, capable to bending the truth, and making mistakes.
I truely feel for the mother who had to watch her son die, and got criminal charges and haul in jail for doing so. I suppose the cops were justified in badding up the people too, and destroying their personal property (phones).
It hard to imagine such needless aggressive and inhuman behaviour would come from a Saint Cop who only shot back in defence of his/ her life. Rather it seems to make the profile on an individual who would abuse power and use excessive, lethal force.
Some of y'all is just talk fool endlessly, yinna need look at the real issues
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
Amen
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