The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

POLICE shot and killed an armed assailant on Friday morning in southern New Providence after the unidentified man was seen brandishing a shotgun in traffic.

According to residents in the Blue Hill Road south community, nearly a dozen shot rang out as officers attempted to take the man into custody.

Motorist in fear swerved to into nearby yards and onto to sidewalks, all hoping not to be caught in the deadly crossfire.

Speaking to The Tribune at the scene, Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said units were called to the area shortly after 10am following reports of a man in black, manoeuvring through traffic on foot, holding a licenced shotgun reported stolen earlier from a convenience store on Zion Boulevard.

ACP Dean indicated that officers attempted to approach the suspect, who fired several shots at officers. He said officers gave chase, exchanging shots with the assailant as he headed north on Blue Hill Road.

Moments into the exchange, according to police reports, officers fatally shot the armed man.

"We want to reassure the public that going into the Christmas season we are going to be vigilant," ACP Dean said. "Because of our vigilance, we were able to quickly confront this armed man. We do not how much harm he could have done to other persons with this shotgun.

"Or he could have committed some more acts of armed robbery, murder. I think we prevented a lot from happening today."

While officers did not identify the dead man at the scene, bystanders identified him as 22-year-old Larenzo Bain, a young resident of a nearby community, The Tribune understands.

Unsubstantiated reports indicated that the deceased was a patient of the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, from where he was recently discharged after treatment for a mental illness.

ACP Dean said he could not confirm or deny the claim on Friday.

Shortly after the incident, several videos appeared on social media, all showing parts of the exchange with officers.

In one video, passengers on a bus could be heard acknowledging that the assailant had a shotgun. Moments later, the same voice could be heard cheering the arrival of officers at the scene.

The incident, at this time, moved from the Zion Boulevard area to the Blue Hill Road south area.

Officers could be seen in the video approaching the man, who then opened fire at officers; forcing one to retreat to his car and the other to the sidewalk.

The unit gave chase, following the man north on Blue Hill Road, exchanging multiple rounds.

In a second video, the armed man could be seen pointing the stolen gun at two more oncoming officers, this time amidst another bus and several other vehicles.

Motorist could be seen panicking as they attempted to drive away and take cover in their vehicles.

The armed assailant could be seen shooting at the foot of one officer, leading him to dive to the floor. His partner could be seen returning fire as the man continued northward on Blue Hill Road.

The incident was described as shocking by one homeowner less than 20 yards from the spot from where the assailant's lifeless body ended up.

"I never thought I would see something like this, here, in my life," the homeowner said.

It was the second incident which involved law enforcement officers shooting an armed assailant on Friday.

Moments before, Immigration officers shot at and wounded an armed man who confronted them with a cutlass in the Domingo Heights area, according to ACP Dean.

He was transported to hospital where he is detained in stable condition.

Speaking to both matters, ACP Dean warned would-be criminals not to approach officers with intent to do harm; stressing that police are trained to protect themselves if necessary.

Both matters are under investigation.