Sat, 2006-07-22

Commissioner of Police George Jackson:

Once again, two families in Bermuda have been traumatized as a result of acts of violence with our youth. Early this morning, Police responded to two separate incidents which resulted in an 18 year old Paget man losing his life and a 19 year old Devonshire man currently in the Intensive Care Unit after sustaining very serious injuries.

Firstly let me say on behalf of the Bermuda Police Service, we extend our condolences to the family of the 18 year old man who lost his life this morning; also our thoughts and prayers are with the 19 year old Devonshire man who is currently in the Intensive Care Unit and his family. The Bermuda Police Service has initiated our Major Crime Response with additional uniformed assistance and an armed presence when necessary to augment our normal Police response to deal with these critical incidents.

I am appealing for the public to get involved; no longer can we remain silent. These incidents affect us all and we must work together to find the causes and solutions to these very critical challenges that are facing our community.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Bryan Bell:

The most serious incident took place around 4:05 this morning when Police received a report of gunshots fired on Ord Road in Paget near the junction with Sylvan Dell Road. We believe a number of shots were fired. As a result of this shooting an 18 year old man from Paget was shot while at the wheel of a car on Ord Road. Despite a speedy response from officers and medical services the victim died at the scene. Police are appealing for any witnesses to this incident or anyone who may have seen anything suspicious late yesterday evening or early this morning, particularly in the Ord Road, Warwick area to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 299-4315, the main Police number 295-0011 or the confidential Crimestoppers Hotline on 1-800-623-8477.

Prior to the shooting incident, around 2:40 this morning Police received a report of an assault on Frog Lane in Devonshire. It appears that the victim, a 19 year old Devonshire man, was attacked with a bladed article. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to KEMH for treatment, where he is currently in critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit. Police are again appealing for any witnesses to this incident or anyone who may have seen anything suspicious late yesterday evening or early this morning, particularly in the Palmetto Road, Devon Lane and/or Frog Lane area of Devonshire to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 299-4315, the main Police number 295-0011 or the confidential Crimestoppers Hotline on 1-800-623-8477. There has been some speculation as to links between the two incidents and while Police are not ruling that out, all lines of inquiry remain open. We do not believe these to be random attacks; but that some party or parties involved are known to one another, with the cowardly nature of the attacks and the senseless use of violence resulting in the killing of at least one young man and leaving the other critically injured.

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