The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

POLICE launched an investigation into the country’s 17th homicide of the year after a man in his late 20s was fatally shot on Fleming Street last night.

Chief Superintendent Sheria King, police press liaison, confirmed that officers were on routine patrol in the Deveaux Street area when they heard gunshots and immediately responded.

Their search led them to Fleming Street, where they found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

“While officers were on patrol, their routine patrol in the Deveaux Street, they heard gunshots. When they made checks in the Deveaux Street, it led them to Fleming Street, and at Fleming Street, they found an adult male suffering from what appears to be gunshot wounds, multiple gunshot wounds, about the body,” Chief Supt King said.

“The initial reports in this homicide is that the victim was walking on Fleming Street when a single male masked on a motorcycle pulled up or rode up on the side of him, shot, fired shots in his direction, fatally wounding him,” Chief Supt King said.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived at the scene, but the victim showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead. His identity has not yet been released.

When asked if the victim was known to police, Chief Supt King declined to confirm, stating that the investigation remains in its preliminary stages.

“While you as the media colleagues may want to know that information, there’s some information I need to be cautious of as I get as they do their investigation, so as to not compromise the investigation. So at this time, I’m unable to give you that information,” she said.

She also declined to confirm whether the victim was being electronically monitored.

As officers continued processing the crime scene, investigators were seen examining a bicycle in the parking lot of Evangelistic Temple on Blue Hill Road, located near the crime scene.

“Yes, bicycle is related,” Chief Supt King said when asked about its connection to the shooting.

This latest homicide marks the third recorded in recent days, raising concerns among residents about the uptick in violence, however, Chief Supt King stated that at this time, there is no evidence linking this case to the other recent killings.

“At this time, we do not have any information to say that these matters are related. As I said, officers were literally on patrol in the area and responded within a minute. So as you can see, our officers are out there and they’re doing their job. They’re doing what is required of them to keep our country safe,” she said.

Despite public concerns over the recent surge in shootings, Chief Supt King assured that police remain active in their patrols and crime suppression efforts.

“We will continue to do what is mandated of us to do, which is to patrol and do our due diligence in order to protect the citizens of The Bahamas,” she said.

Police have appealed to anyone with information regarding this latest homicide to come forward.

Authorities are urging members of the public who may have details that could assist the investigation to contact them at 919/911, the Criminal Investigation Department at 502-9991/2/3, or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS.

All reports will be kept strictly confidential as police work to bring those responsible to justice.

This latest killing comes amid heightened government efforts to curb crime through urban renewal and community-focused initiatives.

Just hours before the Fleming Street shooting, Prime Minister Philip Davis toured Carmichael, promoting the “Clear, Hold, Build” strategy as a means to disrupt criminal activity.

Mr Davis said there was a decrease in homicides compared to last year, but insisted there is no cause for celebration, emphasising that any loss of life due to violent crime remains unacceptable.

As of mid-March, The Bahamas has recorded 17 homicides, a sharp decline from the 34 killings reported at the same point in 2024, however, he dismissed the notion of attributing any government initiatives to the drop.

“I don’t want to attribute any initiatives to the drop in oversight. Any deaths by way of the violent acts that we’re seeing in this country is terrifying. It is not acceptable, and it’s not to be condoned,” Mr Davis said.

“The idea is to produce these acts to a minimum, irreducible minimum. The day when we could go through a month, go through a year without one homicide, repeatedly, then I rejoice, not before.”

The “Clear, Hold, Build” strategy seeks to eliminate crime by removing abandoned vehicles, clearing overgrown lots, and restoring public spaces. Officials say the programme aims to deter criminal activity by eliminating locations that could serve as hiding spots for weapons, drugs, and fugitives.

During the walkabout, officials confirmed that a .38 revolver with six live rounds was found in an area that had been recently cleared.

“We have to accept, and studies have shown, that a clean surrounding produces clean behaviour. And that’s the object of this whole exercise,” Mr Davis said. “If we keep our community from deteriorating, if we keep it clean, it will inspire clean behaviour.”

He urged residents to take ownership of their neighborhoods and support efforts to maintain safer environments.

“Having cleaned them down, we hope that the neighborhoods and those who live in the community, we hope to engage them to assist us in continuing to keep it clean. And that’s the cry on the charge I give to the neighborhoods, that you help us keep the neighborhood clean,” Mr Davis said.

Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin, who co-chairs the Gang Crime and Justice Task Force alongside National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, called the initiative a “massive task” aimed at reversing “systemic neglect of communities”.

“What is underway now is an overhaul in terms of addressing, across the board, environmental issues which impact communities, the psyche of residents,” she said.

Resident Glacie Murphy said lives near one of the cleared properties and said she often felt unsafe previously. “When I come home in the night time – you know, being a single woman, anybody could come in, and could just vandalise the place or even take me captive as a single woman,” Ms Murphy said.