Police Appeal For Witnesses To Fatal Shooting

October 17, 2012

Saying the response from the public has “not been as good as we would have hoped,” the police have appealed for witnesses to the fatal shooting of Michael Phillips this past weekend to come forward.

At 9.35pm on Sunday night, Mr Phillips was shot multiple times while in the parking lot of Mid Atlantic Boat Club on North Shore Road in Devonshire. He had left the club to get on his motorcycle, and one suspect ran into the parking lot and began shooting at him, while the second suspect entered the club and fired approximately three shots.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Calvin Smith said: “The Bermuda Police Service is continuing to appeal for witnesses or anyone that can help with the investigation into the fatal shooting of 42 year old Michael Phillips outside the Mid-Atlantic Boat Club in Devonshire around 9:30pm Sunday, October 14th 2012.

“To date the response from the public has not been as good as we would have hoped. We are aware that approximately 30 persons were in the establishment at the time.

“While many of those persons might believe that there is not much they can offer, I want to assure them that the smallest piece of information can assist with this investigation.

“Detectives are especially interested in speaking to three females that were in a black car in the parking lot prior to the untimely death of Mr. Phillips.

“As the investigative team works to progress all possible lines of enquiry including forensic evidence collected at the scene, members of the public who can assist in bringing these dangerous offenders to justice are once again urged to come forward to do their part in making Bermuda safer.

“Anyone with any information regarding the murder of Michael Phillips or the location of illegal firearms, whether they believe it to be important or not, should contact the Serious Crime Unit in confidence on 247-1739 or the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.”

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Comments (33)

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  1. !!REDRUM says:

    C’mon you three girls, say SOMETHING Please!!!

    • Perhaps says:

      Perhaps the 3 girls were involved? Maybe they were the ones who told the shooters that Mr. Phillips was at the club? If this is the case, these girls will never come forward.

      • Shit Happens says:

        Perhaps you are something else what makes you think the 3 girls might be scared to what may happen to them. Is the police gonna be around to protect then No. So think about what you say first..

  2. Truth is killin' me... says:

    The public are not talking because they are sh!t scared of reprecussions. It is not ROCKET SCIENCE for pete’s sake. Get a grip BPS. If someone fired off shots in your direction at a club as a warning would you talk???!!!

  3. 9PK says:

    F’off do some police work stop depending on the public for assistance.

  4. Get Real says:

    @ Truth is Killin’ Me! That’s the problem…people aren’t talking!!! Have you ever heard of CRIME STOPPERS? @ !!!REDRUM. Maybe the 3 girls have something to do with it!!! TALK ABOUT ROCKET SCIENCE!!!

    • ABM says:

      You’ve never called crime stoppers before have you? IT DOES NOT WORK!! AND YOU ARE NOT SAFE!! AND THEY CANNOT PROTECT YOU EITHER!!!

  5. Duh?? 9pk says:

    @9pk

    Police work is also about engaging the community and finding out what they have knowledge of.

    Information is recieved:
    1 forensically :evidence, e.g. fingerprints, GSR (gun shot Residue)
    2. Eye witnesses: tips of people who have seen something and say something. (that is an active and key means of getting information

    in the age of the web, facebook, twitter, and all the other social media, police are doing their job by asking for the public’s assistance. In short, that is police work. help or get out of the way!

  6. 9PK says:

    My point is stop using lack of public assisstance as an excuse on why your not getting any leads or arrest

  7. 9PK says:

    Ps. You sound like cop anyway, so you obviously wouldn’t agree, its us the public, the innocent that’s being targeted now. I bet if a cop gets shot and killed that murder would be solved within 48hrs w/out assisstance from the public.

    • Terry says:

      What an assinine statement.
      How old are you.
      You know diddly.
      You sound like an 9PK carryier.

    • Tyrone says:

      9pk or whatever, you are part of the entire problem and you probably don’t even know it. Would you have the same stupid opinion if your family member was shot and killed? I’m guessing that you would want the police to do all they can and believe it or not, that includes asking for assistance from the public…. Duh.

    • You are so right, I agree with you 100%

  8. What is the Definition of insanity? says:

    @Duh and 9pk

    I agree with 9pk on this one if you were to go back to some of the very first news articles about the shootings they were asking the public to come forward, and still to this day they are saying the same thing something definetly is not right.
    And in a lot of those blog posting in the early shootings the public was begging and pleading for the police to bring in more troops from wherever and start knocking down doors and to drag some of these guys out of their mothers homes and if they don’t the shootings will continue.
    Sadly a lot of the predictions came true.
    I dont say this to blame the bps only to help, please ask for more troops and start getting in some of these homes before it is too late.
    You know who the hardcore drug addicts are who are being a terror to their neigbhors and family members and you know who the hardcore gangmembers are, round these b@st@rds up.

    There are family members being held hostage by these guys if they are doing all this in the open imagine what they are putting their families through.The families will be upset for the moment that you are busting in their homes but in the long run it is for the best as you can now see with what is happening.

    PLease for the sake of Bermuda end these shootings before it is too late, and stop using that “we need help from the public” line ffs we get it we know if we see anything to call the police.
    Call in the army ,uk troops whoever do something more then what you are doing.

  9. xfiles says:

    Check out the article in today’s RG.Groups of vigilanties are finding and beating burglars,rapists and murderers in Jamaica.We’re not far from that type of justice if these gangs are allowed to contiue unchallenged.People don’t come forward out of fear of reprisal.Mostly because they have no confidence of confidentiality within the BPS.

  10. What is the Definition of insanity? says:

    I just want to say my statement above is not an attack on the police but people are just fed up of all this and if something is not done this madness will continue.
    To police you will need to take drastic measures even if it is marching a few hundred officers into neighbors then do it.
    And shut the drug trade down while you are at it. just do more drastic things.Its not aggressive enough.

    My respects to the family members who have lost a loved one through this senseless act.

  11. UK says:

    some Bermudians r so stupid!!!

  12. 9PK says:

    First of all is my opinion so none of you should be making a personal reference too me

  13. Duh?? 9pk says:

    9pk,

    Maybe you have not been following the recent murder trials where the police have secured successful convictions. Many, were solved because of community help or people seeing something and saying something. The police ( and no i am not a cop) are asking for the obvious, help from people that were at the location on the night of the shooting and may have seen something that is policing 101. They are not soley depending only on the public’s help but community cooperation is a key ingrident

    I think you are unclear how many arrest and convictions there have been, in the last 3 years. Before we beat up on the police, lets focus that rage on the men/women that are holding us hostage in our community. lets take the venom that is being spewed at the police and place it squarly at the feet of the fools who are holding us hostage in our own country.

  14. Keepin' it Real...4Real! says:

    i happened across this and i thought it humorous but true take a look n comment on it….
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pAC0YSmK0g&feature=g-all-lik

  15. Judgement says:

    Just a thought.Maybe the Police can have individual units/squads for each gang.

  16. BlahBlahBlah says:

    I am not a COP but in order for crimes to be solved and progress to be made into this investigation the public or persons at the scene need to help. The police was not there so they have to ask questions of the people that were there.

    Those people are not talking; they are scared. But think about it, if we speak we can get them off the streets; we need to make a stand or this will get worse and worse. Wake up Bermuda; we are killing each other, this is getting really bad.

    I knew Mikey and he is from the old school, probably never saw this craziness coming but this is what we have to deal with today. Dead youth walking around with guns. When I say dead, I mean without emotion or any respect for human life because they don’t know what it means. They have the lowest self esteem and this type of activity as sick as it sounds provides them with the false sense of esteem they think they need to feel good or “respected”. Most of the murders are about feeling disrepected. These murderers profiles are easy to identify, parents on drugs probably or they have been abandoned by totally dysfuntional parents. They have never been taught how to deal with anger and rejection so this is the result. Well done. I saw this coming from one of the first incidents at St. George’s Club when that brawl broke out that is when extreme measures should have been put in place. We may have to get extreme with some of these criminals.
    They are probably medicating themselves which makes them even more numb and they will do this over and over cuz it gets easier to do.

    Speak up for the sake of our next generation.

  17. not_really_bermudian says:

    I’ve said it before I’ll say it again the public no its parkside so how the hell don’t the police know….an the reason why guys feel they can do shootings is because they will only get a couple years compared to selling drugs where u get double for that…..its the government an the police are the problem its unheard of that they can’t police 21 miles are u serious that’s no bigger then some hoods in foreign….its not a problem cause its just black men so they turn a blind eye an expect the public to snitch on one another

  18. BlahBlahBlah says:

    @Not_Really. Stop blaming the Police, this is not helping us. And, no I am not the Police; trust me.

    The reason they continue to shoot is because we are not talking!

    The Government did not raise these children and neither did the Police.

    You nailed it with this one; it’s just black men, our Bermudian black males being shot and doing the shooting. What does that tell you; “The White Men’s doing it”???? Wake up! I am not trying to get you irritated but it’s our issue our problem, Black Bermudians and White Bermudians (whether they care or not), we have to do something for our new generation and to save the young men that are left.

    A generation of our young men are gone in one way or another. We are the problem; we make too many excuses for our behavior and we need to take responsibility for how we have raised our children, spoiled in some instances to want and get everything and in some instances we abandon and mistreat cuz we have serious issues our selves. Look at the leaders of the gang you pointed out above???? Look at their parents; I rest my case. You know exactly who I am talking about……

  19. !!REDRUM says:

    @ Perhaps & Get Real, are you two of three girls….?!?!?

  20. Gotten Out of Hand says:

    BPS YOU NEED TO TAKE HEED TO ANY & EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF INFO GIVEN! STOP TURNING A BLIND EYE AND DEAF EAR AND FIND OUT (IF YOU DONT ALREADY KNOW) WERE — & —- REST THEIR HEADS!! THEY ARE THE GANG LEADERS TO THIS TERRORIST SQUAD WE KNOW AS “PARKSIDE”. ARREST THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES AND HOLD THEM UNTIL THESE LOW LIVES TURN THEMSELVES IN! INTERROGATE THE FEW PARKSIDE GUYS IN JAIL FOR DAYS UNTIL THEY CONFESS SOME FORM OF INFO, AFTER ALL, THEY’RE STILL BEING SUPPLIED CANTINE $$ & WEED & MINUTES FOR THEIR PHONES BY THESE DEVILS! ARREST THAT GIRL — HAS BEEN POKING WITH THATS SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR SOME MAGAZINE. ONCE HER JOB GETS INFO ON THAT SHE’LL BE IN A PREDICAMENT TO EITHER TURN HIM IN OR LOSE EVERYTHING! REVOKE THEIR RIGHTS TO TRAVEL, SO NOBODY GOES NOWHERE!! THIS CAN BE DONE BUT YOU ALL NEED TO DO IT!! PPL ARE TIRED OF THESE LIL BASTARDS!! TIME FOR ALL INNOCENT TO SUFFER. NOT JUST OUR FAMILIES BUT THEIRS TOO!!

  21. not_really_bermudian says:

    @blahblah….the parents should be held responsible but ask ya self who are there parents the generation that run government an the police….an no I wasn’t saying the “whiteman done it”cause again who runs the island black people so at the end of the day where doing it to are selves….but its not the whole island is just one group of individuals so I can’t understand why they can’t crack down on them or won’t

    • BlahBlahBlah says:

      We need to stick together and talk. The Police can charge a person; they do not require much evidence but the Prosecutions department then go over all the information and at this point they require accordingly to the Bermuda Laws enough to satisfy a conviction of at least to take these people to court. If there is not enough evidence nor witnesses then their hands are tied, hence free on bail.

      Do you get it now? We need to tell the Police what they need to do their duty. They were not there; a bullet can tell them which side of the fence the shooters came from by now but still not enough to charge a person. These shooters wear dark clothing typically and wear dark visors and have unlicensed bikes or bikes without tags so it’s hard to identify them. People are often so scared and shocked they often are left running and not able to really get a good look so it’s hard. But whatever they can provide they should.

      Tall, short, voice, type of walk, run etc. Remember Bermuda is small so it’s easy to identify people so times just by the way they walk or run. We need to start to tackle these guys down; without putting ourselves into harm’s way of course but we may have to go out on a limb to save our future generation.

      Remember it takes one person to stand up and if enough do they have no power. But we have to do it. I am going to be very honest with you, I have lived a good life and I am not fearful of death. If I witnessed something like this I would tell all I could as murder is a sin and no man has the right to takes another life; period. Nothing anybody has done warrants death that way. Vengeance is not ours.

      It’s wrong and the people that have done this need to answer to the law of the land. We need a specialized SWAT team to follow these lot and find out where guns are hidden etc.

      The guy that got murdered was not part of a gang; I knew him. He was from my era and we all would hang out and have a great time. The people that did this had to be a younger group that has no clue. He must have disrespected someone and this is the result. Remember the majority of these murders are over respect; nothing more, seriously and it’s a real shame.

      • R U Serious says:

        Thank you very much for what you said. Mikey was my brother

  22. !!REDRUM says:

    So000ooooo, since my last post at 9:40 this morning, there has NOT been ONE response from Sistahs “Perhaps” and “Get Real”.

    I think I have done my policing for today, won’t you say…….?!?!
    Now Po-Po, go find them @#!%^& and question their a$$es!!!!

    GET TO WORK BPS!! Enoughs-Enough!!