By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
A CHURCH minister was shot and killed early yesterday morning while using a Scotiabank automated teller machine (ATM) at Wulff Road and Jerome Avenue, sparking an island-wide manhunt for the perpetrator of this latest homicide.
While police have not officially released his identity, The Tribune understands the victim is Ivan Cleare, a minister at New Bethlehem Baptist Church on Independence Drive.
Hours after the shooting, police reported that a suspect was in custody, adding that a handgun was allegedly found in his possession.
The incident pushed the country’s homicide count to 54 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.
A relative at the home of Mr Cleare’s mother, where other loved ones gathered to mourn, confirmed he was the victim of this murder, but declined further comment as the family was struggling to deal with his death.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Stephen Dean, Mr Cleare’s lifeless body was discovered shortly after 8am when police responded to a tip they received.
ACP Dean said investigators were unsure of when the shooting took place or how long the victim had been lying on the ground.
However, an employee at a nearby gas station told The Tribune that the victim had come into the station for gas early Sunday morning and the employee expressed shock to learn that he had been “killed in cold blood”.
When this newspaper arrived at the scene, scores of onlookers gathered in the parking lot of an establishment directly across from the bank. Police could be seen putting a black body bag into a vehicle to be taken to the morgue.
Hours before the suspect’s arrest, police issued two images taken from video surveillance footage yesterday, which showed the alleged shooter and a silver coloured vehicle believed to be the gunman’s getaway car.
The image released by police showed a dark-skinned man wearing a white t-shirt, dark coloured hoodie and a cap.
“We are trying to determine exactly what happened,” ACP Dean said yesterday at the scene of the murder.
“We don’t have a motive, (but) we suspect that it might be robbery at this initial outlook. However, police are appealing to members of the public who might have been canvassing the area, who might have seen anything in this area, to please contact the police.
“We must bring justice to the family of this male. We know he is an adult male.
“We are appealing to persons who might be responsible out there that the police will hunt you down. We are asking you at this moment to turn yourself in before the police come to arrest you. You have an opportunity to turn yourself in.”
He continued: “Our detectives are in the preliminary phases of this investigation to determine exactly what happened so we are on the ground canvassing. We are talking to businesses (and) we are talking to residences. We are really doing an area sweep to determine if we can garner any information and we have launched an island wide manhunt for persons who we suspect it might be.”
ACP Dean made further appeal to persons making deposits or transactions at banks to take the proper precautions to ensure their safety.
“The days of just coming to an ATM machine casually late at night (or) early in the morning by yourself (are gone). We must take security precautions.
“We have seen the trend of persons who are depositing money to the bank for places (like) churches (or) wherever. They are doing it alone. We are asking you to get security on board. There are numerous private securities throughout The Bahamas who can assist you.
“We are asking you to speak with your divisional commanders (in various communities) to seek advice (on) how best you can make your deposits.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.
Comments
banker 7 years, 10 months ago
Sad. It is escalating from thugs shooting thugs, to thugs shooting innocents.
Honestman 7 years, 10 months ago
Bahamians are becoming prisoners in their own land. We are not free anymore to live the life that God intended us to live. We cannot walk the streets for fear of armed miscreants accosting us. We cannot drive on our roads without fear of being ambushed or car-jacked. We do not even feel safe within the confines of our own homes. There needs to be a zero tolerance to crime. It must start with electing to political office persons who respect the rule of law, persons who are upright and honest and persons who have the courage to lead by example. The country needs a fearless leader who will commission a foreign crime zsar to implement the measures necessary to rid this country of the armed hoodlums that have stolen the joy of living from many Bahamians. Christie, Minnis and the rest of the current political elite have no part in the solution, rather they are a big part of the problem.
TalRussell 7 years, 10 months ago
Comrade Banker we will remain an hallucinating nation if the 54th senseless ATM murder seems no more real than the 53 previously 'recorded' murders.
A populace of 344,000, who bought into past and current law-makers lies when they had us under an illusion that if only we stayed away from certain known crime areas, we and our loved-ones would remain safe and secure from the criminal thugs.
Our Bahamaland's craziness can no longer be hidden from our major American, British & European tourism markets. And left unchecked this paranoia, anxiety, trauma and fear will see our tourism visitors numbers decline by 32% over the next 12-36 months - even before the Cuban damage is to be felt.
It does not help when we have certain clergy who are prepared to demand funding from the government to fight a battle against gay lifestyles, while never once asking for a penny to battle the murderous lifestyle of the criminal thugs.
We need to check the preacherman's status eligibility of any clergyman's who would oppose the licensing of a liquor established near their churches, but not a numbers establishment. In fact, some would even allow gambling customers parking on their churches parking lots...even if children are to be left in hot cars while daddy or mommy goes numbers shopping?
banker 7 years, 10 months ago
In my opinion, we have passed the point of no return. Societal collapse has the following characteristics:
Destratification - the middle class and the various nuances disappear. We have just the unemployed, those just hanging on, and the rich.
Despecialization: The move to knowledge industries has not happened. The present society is supported by the work of the lower classes. During societal collapse, specialised jobs are removed and people tend to become more generalized in their work and daily habits, with less money.
Breakdown: In many instances of collapse, there is a slackening of social rules and etiquette. Communities become more parochial, religious-driven or isolated from a broader, enlightened outlook and economic spectrum.
Destructuralization: Institutions, processes break down. People are forced to adopt more self-sufficient lifestyles, including crime, begging and reliance on whoever and whatever they can.
The coupled breakdown of economic, cultural and social institutions that we are seeing now, is a classic picture of a society on the brink of collapse.
The only way to stop this, is to get the people working again. And it isn't happening.
John 7 years, 10 months ago
When the incidence of murder started to increase, it was always the police and the news reports that would be sure to state " the victim was known to police" (he had a criminal record) or he had recently been released from prison, or that he was a known gang member, or that he was involved in drugs. Sometimes these speculations were never confirmed and while it may made it more easy for the public to accept that " hey we have a serious crime and murder problem." It did not make it easier for the victims of those families who had to endure the talk. Each person killed should have been treated as a victim of murder and no effort spared to find his killers. A clear message should have been sent that no message in this town would be tolerated, regardless of who the victim was or what the motive was. And even today the public tends to blame the victim of murder regardless of the circumstance. There is clear evidence that murder in this country is for hire and affordable, and also that there are desperate people willing to take a life for a few dollars. And as the economy continues to slide downward, so does the value of life. Can you honestly say that there has been any improvement in the economy over the past five years? What about the quality and standard of living? Shall we continue to bury our heads in the sand?
Regardless 7 years, 10 months ago
...so while crime is successfully eroding away tourism and shutting down any normalcy of life in Nassau what do the aspiring "leaders" offer as remedy? Nothing! Not one plan has been brought forth from prime minister wannabees including the fat woman and the short man. The only motivation politicians have is to control the country's national purse. They have no idea how to manage a small nation of 300,000. Both political parties have done a wonderful job in creating a couple of generations that can hardly read and write but now the genie of out of the bottle. While the blame constantly flows back to days of non-majority rule and beyond, this still does not eradicate the fact that in less than 50 years the stewardship of both political parties has all but destroyed the country and despite rhetoric, the "elites" lobby heavy to be on the Queen's lists for recognition. If one attends the political "elites" parties, one would assume nothing is wrong with the crescendo of laughter from those who cannot touch their toes. They should be hanging their heads in shame.
Alltoomuch 7 years, 10 months ago
Sorry Banker - first of all the education system has to be vastly improved!
TalRussell 7 years, 10 months ago
Comrade Banker and Alltoomuch, why should we put even more state funds into an inadequate educational system that is heading for extinction within the next 15 years?
87% of all high school 'graduates' are lucky to even enter and remain employed as minimum wage workers.
Are you aware that we have government school teachers, who are also on social assistance? Examine the educational requirements to join Royal Bahamaland's Police and Defense Forces?
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 10 months ago
The needlessly lifeless body of this man of God should be laid in the House of Assembly immediately in front of Bernard Nottage's seat!
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
Is there anything "worst of the worst" than that slaying of the Rev????
banker 7 years, 10 months ago
There is an endemic problem. The illiterate school leavers - thousands of them, have no jobs other than hustling and grifting on the street. They have been poorly socialised in largely absent-father homes by indulgent mothers who had to work to raise them. The police force is not big enough suppress the hundreds upon hundreds of young me who roam the streets every day, looking for a way to score a few dollars. Ten armed robberies in a couple of days. There is not enough money, time or resources to fix the problem now.
TalRussell 7 years, 10 months ago
Comrade Banker The Bahamaland has never given up on producing one of the the gems of the world, so why should her people turn their backs on their Homeland?
There are 11 main government priorities. Arrest the national debt and escalating crime, backed by a growth in steady paychecks, collecting overdue taxes, fair payment for our natural resources, securing our borders and deporting all who are here illegally - the discontinuation of approving mega resort projects - no crown land transfers to any foreigner for any reason, establishing national lottery and the legalization recreational use marijuana.
There is no justification for any citizen who will work, not to have an opportunity to earn a steady and livable paycheck.
banker 7 years, 10 months ago
Bahamians of all ilk have voted and voted resoundingly that gender equality means nothing to them. They do not place any intrinsic value in the higher aspects of enlightenment. The government is doing nothing to create steady pay cheques or halt the escalating crime. They are taxing those businesses who are not their friends, while giving patronage to those who are. They are corrupt kleptocrats. There are unsolvable systemic problems.
The country offers it citizenry nothing but hardship, blood-soaked streets and tears, and a very low standard of living, except for an elect few who aid the kleptocrats in their sins against the country and against its citizenry.
Since life on earth is granted once, it is incumbent upon men and women to seek their place in the sun, where they are respected, treasured for the contributions and rewarded for their efforts. If the homeland will not do it, then there are places that will do so for the geographically mobile The sad, unfortunate aspect is that 90% of my fellow Bahamians are caught in the meat grinder, this vale of tears on a limestone rock.
It is force majeure. You can't fight them. You can't join them. If you can, you vote with your feet.
You have no idea of how many business owners of all sizes, in the past two years, have sought my advice on how to transfer assets (legally and illegally) to other jurisdictions. The exodus of capital has started. Won't be long when the exodus of people will accelerate with a fury. 68% of those educated abroad do not return -- with good reason.
TalRussell 7 years, 10 months ago
Comrade Banker you have done an excellent job listing what needs correcting but 95% of the populace either will not, or cannot afford to relocate to another county. Are they not equally deserving of a chance of living in a prosperous Homeland?
Bahamaland is still an excellent country that needs good people to help them fix it.
banker 7 years, 10 months ago
And what if it can't be fixed? What if the forces required to change are bigger than the resources necessary to muster the remedial resources.
One man or woman cannot make a difference any more. He has a whole army against him/her. If one such patriot arises, the PLP bulldog rapist chairman will spew putrid venom to destroy that person, because the kleptocrats want the status quo. It is no accident that education is sorely lacking.
There is no magic bullet. It took two or three generations to get to the state of disrepair, and we all know that building takes a lot more effort and a lot longer than say, striking a spark to ignite an inferno that destroys everything.
I am a humanist. Everyone deserves a shot at making a significant life for themselves. And those that take that ability and hope away, are culpable of crimes against humanity. And that my dear, describes your beloved PLP to a tee. The sins on their souls against the Bahamian people are immense.
There is no hope. There are no solutions given the current state of affairs. We will just sit and watch entropy take its course. This will not end by itself.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 10 months ago
It is time that the politicians introduce a Bill to remove the Privy Council as the highest Court of Appeal on criminal cases ............ just like with citizenship, the politicians can do this tomorrow
concernedcitizen 7 years, 10 months ago
You want FDI to vanish completely
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