Eyewitness Report: Murder at Spinning Wheel
[Updated] [Bernews has spoken with eyewitnesses to the shooting murder that occurred just after midnight this morning [Aug 9]. They tell us that shortly after midnight a small light-coloured car with its licence plate appearing to be blacked out drove up to Spinning Wheel, and two men hopped out.
They said that one appeared to be wearing some form of a mask, the other some form of coat which appeared to be a raincoat. They rushed in the club [it appears a third man was behind the wheel], fired, and ran back out and drove off at top speed. We are told that it all happened extremely fast, and that people did try and stop the car, as well as throwing bottles at it. We were told club goers rushed from the facility, and the scene became somewhat chaotic.
We were told that bystanders bundled the victim into a car and rushed him to King Edward Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later. We were also told that bystanders heard what could have been over 10 shots fired, and they “knew the man was dead from the amount of shots fired.” They told us the victim appeared to have been shot multiple times, and was severely wounded at the scene.
Some on the scene speculate that the 47-year-old victim, whom has not officially been named yet but was well known to frequent the area, may have been targeted by the shooters to “make a name for themselves,” as the victim is so widely known in some segments of the community. They also allege the car involved is “known.” We asked whether they thought the shooting that took place 30 mins prior was related; the people were spoke with seemed to think not.
Update August 15th: We spoke with a good friend of Troy “Yankee” Rawlins that was with him that night who provided further details. He said he, Mr Rawlins and a few others were at the Swinging Doors Bar having a “couple of drinks”, when the bar ran out of Chivas [a drink Mr Rawlins was said to favour] so they decided to walk down to Spinning Wheel. Upon arriving at Spinning Wheel, two men carrying guns burst in and fired at Mr Rawlins while he was in the entrance. We were told many people ran away at top speed, and others stood there appearing to be in shock. Approximately four men lifted Mr Rawlins, who was slumped in the entrance, and bundled him into a private car and sped to King Edward Memorial.
The Police released an official statement in relation to the murder saying:
Around 12:30am on Monday, Police responded to a confirmed firearm incident at The Spinning Wheel nightclub on Court Street in Pembroke. The victim, a 47 year old Pembroke man, was shot multiple times inside the club. He was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
No further information will be given until next of kin have been notified. The Bermuda Police Service extends condolences to the family & friends of the deceased.
There were people in The Spinning Wheel nightclub at the time of the incident and some of those individuals have come forward to assist officers with their inquiries. Investigators are also analyzing CCTV footage of the area. The scene has been cordoned off and is being forensically examined for evidence. An active investigation into this matter is underway. Any witnesses or anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8115 or the independent confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hotline on 800-8477.
This is the seventh murder of 2010 following the murders of Perry Puckerin, James Lawes, Kimwandae Walker, George Lynch, Dekimo Martin and Freddy Maybury.
Bernews extends our sincere sympathies to the victim’s children, family, and friends. Anyone with any information is urged to call the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8115, or the independent 24 hour confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hotline on 800-8477, or send an anonymous tip via the Crime Stoppers Bermuda website crimestoppers.bm.
Update 3:08pm: Details released at the Police press conference this afternoon confirms most this story; 2 shooters, arriving in a light-coloured car, Mr Rawlins taken to hospital via a private car, multiple gunshot wounds etc.
[Please note except for the specific Police quote, all information provided is unofficial and unconfirmed, and should be taken as such]
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Chickens have to come home to roost sometime.
f#ck u mayb u need to roost…they took someones dad uncle n son…paybacks a bitch
@kr – Ya they did take someone’s dad uncle n son and ya paybacks a bitch… but since the 80′s that man who was shot dead is alleged to has been responsible for many things… many many many!
So many want to live the life of dishonor but yet expect to die with honor… there is no honor in the drug game… none!
Well said
well said
No one has the right to take a life…
you live by sword, you die by the swords
Can’t you black men see that the countinous killing of each other is leaving us outnumbered. Life is hard as it is…..
“Kr” was he married? What about his wife.
Anyway, another wasted life. What will people say when it is someone else, an innocent child, a mother opening the door.
The only thing to fear is fear itself. We can irradicate this by comming together. It will take much but there are forces out there that see the seperation as a way of gain.I read somewhere today about what brought about his death but will not repeat it here.
@KR – ppl make choices and many of his as we ALL know weren’t the right ones. Every action has a reaction….
And no, no one has the right to take a life, but what goes around eventually comes back around sorry to say. Karma comes back to us all….
It’s a shame those children will be w/o a father.
@ the Truth – thank you for speaking the truth.
it is what it is … what he think? he’s invincible ..lol
if you were already shot @ … don’t u think your days are numbered…
live by the gun … die by the gun..
remember .. bda is only 20miles long .. you will get what’s coming to you either today or tomorrow .. there’s no were to hide for all the PRETENDING GANGSTA’S
pretending ur funny…anyways everyone makes choices on how to live..some r dr.s some are waitress not everybody has the luxury of doin whats right..yes he was caught up in the game but u kno what noone deserves to die or b taken from sum jitt..and whoeva did it 18 times really does it take all that? @ least have the courtesy of lettin his mother see him somewhat as she remembers him @ the wake…i kno him better than half and he was a good person despite of what he did and @ haha how u kno he was pretend..believe he was the truth and u think sum jitt can come shoot him down and take over that easy..no no no this is just the beginning they started sumthing they r not goin to finish
My first post was edited but I did say that I grieve for the family that has been hit with this recent tragedy. Excuse me if I do not shed a tear for the fallen! My tears go to his children, godchildren and the youth that were in his life. My tears go to his mother but they will not be shed for those who aided his lifestyle. The loss of life is nothing to joke about at all but with that said…. WAKE UP said it correctly! You live by the sword… you die by the the sword!
There are so many families right now reeling in pain due to this outrageous behavior of a few. The choices we make do not just affect us… they affect our families, friends and community. Unfortunately due to the mindset of many of these young men, they are too blind to see this to be fact. We are all responsible for what is happening in this island. The ones who turned a blind eye to the unruly children as they were growing up… the ones who refuse to talk to the police when they know whats going on…. the ones who stand back and let drug money put food on their table and clothes on their backs… the ones who are in denial about what their family is doing… the ones who will take gossip and run with it rather than do something about it!!!
People are constantly saying we need to come together, we need to come together… but explain to me how can you change the mindset of people? How can you tell someone that their way of thinking is wrong if it is the only way they know? What happened to it takes a village to raise a child? We have been so caught up in material things in this island to really pay attention to what is going on around us and now that the S*#T has hit the fan we all have the answers to the problem… Prevention is much easier than a cure…
If we are serious about taking our island back… we need to adopt the ways of the 50s and 60s where everyone looked out for each other… We need to stop looking for a scapegoat and be proactive with the youth we have contact with. They are the only ones who will bring change. The old adage is true.. you cant teach an old dog new tricks… The young men who are responsible for these killings are not looking to be taught anything…. they think they know it all. I say leave them to their own devices because at the end of the day there is nothing we can do to stop them. We have had rallies, prayers and so forth… has it stopped the shootings? NO! We have blamed the government… has it stopped the shootings? NO! Even when their own lie in the streets dead… will it stop the shootings? NO! We cant force people to do what they dont want to do! They continue to kill until they are either satisfied with the final result or they end up dead themselves.
Yes, sorry about that, we thought it was a well articulated post….but legally we have certain issues. Some of things that we all think, we could be sued for people saying, sigh.
And great post above….
Understandable, which is why I changed the tone slightly with my second posting.
Thanks for the understanding…
That was very well spoken!! ‘Prevention is far easier than a cure’. It starts at home. I have 3 young children. I can either raise them to either MAKE or BREAK society and of course I am striving for positive results. Times have surely changed from when I was a kid. When I chose to do wrong, no doubt someone who knew my parents made a call. When I reached home thinking I was fine, my parents BEAT ME!!! We need the ‘village’ back!!!!!!!
Yes, that’s what we need. Parents beating their children. . How’s that working for your positive results? I suspect these boys on the street have already had a parent beat them before, thus accelerating their decline. Only when this neanderthal part of our culture subsides will we start to make social progress.
Its something really wrong with the Bermudians growing up today. The devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour.
We all know that only God can judge but it was only a matter of time before this man had his day. The important thing is whether or not he submitted his life to Christ.
Yankee has not been an angel all of his life. Its sad that he had to go like that but this island needs change!
I just hope that this island wakes up and finds a solution.
We have young man who can be accountants, pharmacist, drs, lawyers…BUT they out here in the streets. They know how to count,measure drugs, defend their own “thug friends” but yet they want that fast life.
Even the girls out here want the fast life they go after these guys soo they can support their materialistic lifestyle!
Its soo sad.
Father I pray that you spread your healing hand over this island. The devil knows his days are numbered and he is trying to take whoever he can with them. Guide and protect us all that we can be a beaming light to your children who have gone astray. Please be with the leasers of this country and help them to find a solution to this madness. We can feel your soon return and ask that you will keep us in your path. In jesus name I pray. AMEN!!
Amen!!
Another one bites the dust
We may not like the lifestyle that the man lived . . . agreed . . . we may even feel he paid for his actions in a different way . . . but what we are forgetting amongst our statements is that the man has not one, not two, but eight, eight children who are now fatherless . . . who will have to grow up with the anger and grief of losing their father. Put aside our feelings for the man and his actions for one minute and let’s concentrate on the numerous children who are being left fatherless and /or orphans, and how these behaviors will affect our future to come . . . the children!!!!!
WELL SAID!!! I feel that this is the exact point the gunmen are missing. The poor children, what about the children. It hurts my heart to even think about what they are feeling right now. What is going on in this island is horrid! I hope these kids have people in their lives to bring them up the way they should go. They have every right to be angry right now, however I hope they are guided on how to forgive and not grow up with hate in thier heart.
We keep talking about him and his family and how they are going to be now that he is gone. First of all did HE think of his children? He was almost a middle aged man still acting like a child. Everyone knows in one way or another what he allegedly did to make his money, with that lifestyle comes certain risks. He knew the risks and he took them. It is true no one deserves to die in that manner, but in some strange way someone’s father mother daughter son may have been saved because there is one less person out there allegedly putting that poison out on our streets… “allegedly”
Nobody deserves to be gunned down in the manner that so many young men have been… but do these young men think about their own children who in part through their actions/lifestyles etc are CHOOSING a life for their children that renders them fatherless.
Life is about choices AND consequences…
First I would like to send my condolence to the family. Troy AKA Faheem was a close friend to me and he had a lot of people in Jersey who loved him dearly so for those of you who are sayiny negative things about him like there is two sides to a story there is another side to a person and he had very good side if you knew him like we did. So we the brothers and sisters in Jersey are going to miss him and R.I.P. Yankee AKA Faheem your brother and Boy Rock.