18-Year-Old Dies Following Shooting
[Updating: Police confirm that an 18-year-old male has died following a shooting in the east end]
The police confirmed they “received a report of a body lying in the road near Clearwater Beach, St. David’s” this morning [April 6] and said they “located the body of a male and secured the scene, which is currently being processed by the BPS Forensic Support Unit.”
A police spokesperson said, “Around 6:30am Wednesday, 6th April 2022 police received a report of a body lying in the road near Clearwater Beach, St. David’s.
“Police officers responded, located the body of a male and secured the scene, which is currently being processed by the BPS Forensic Support Unit.
“Inquiries continue at the scene and a press conference at the location is anticipated in due course.”
We will update as able.
Update | The live replay is below
Update 10.35am: The police confirmed that a young man was fatally shot.
The police said, “We’re here in Southside near Clearwater Beach. Early this morning, police received a call, around 6.30am, of the discovery of a body of a male.
“Police attended a short time later, examined the body, and found that there was a young male who was unresponsive. As a result of that, we’ve had a really big police response; we have a number of officers in the area conducting searches, including our technical division, detectives, K9s, armed officers.
“We can confirm that this was a shooting, the person was shot and he was pronounced dead about an hour later by an on-duty physician.”
The young man’s body was found this morning by a person out exercising.
Inspector Jason Smith said, “Our focus in this investigation so far is centering around the 11.00pm hour. We do believe that it was somewhere in that vicinity that tragedy struck in this location.
“We are particularly appealing for those members of the community that live on the Tommy Fox Road; we are particularly appealing for anyone that has any information about motorbikes – there might have been two motorbikes involved.
“Our investigations are preliminary, but there is some suggestion at this stage that he might have been chased – our victim might have been chased – and ended up in the location behind us.”
The police said they are not releasing the age of the victim yet as it is still very early in the investigation/notification of next of kin.
Update 2.05pm: Minister of National Security Michael Weeks said, “This has been a sad and traumatizing day for our island. We’ve lost yet another young man to the senseless act of gun violence. I send my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family of the victim.
“I have young sons of my own, so I can absolutely empathize with this family’s loss of their loved one. This has been a very concerning and active few days of violence and anti-social behavior. As Minister of National Security, I am committed to doing all that I can to help curb the violence in our community, and I will be meeting with the Gang Violence Reduction Team [GVRT] to have a fulsome discussion about the current initiatives and plans.
“Today’s murder is in the early investigative stages, and I’m urging anyone who may have any information about this incident to please share what you know. Please help this young man’s family find some sense of peace and justice. They can call the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.”
Update 2.08pm: Shadow National Security Minister Michael Dunkley said, “I’m past the point of expressing shock every time I hear of a violent incident involving youth on our island. I am angry. I am sad. I think it’s deplorable that another family is forced to endure unnecessary pain. As a community, we can no longer sit by and complain and point fingers. The blame game is old. We have to put our heads and hearts together and find solutions to this violent scourge that is impacting our beautiful island.
“We cannot bury our heads in the sand. Family and friends of those committing heinous acts such as this must speak up and hold them accountable. We must commit to social responsibility—our community is depending on it.
“On behalf of the One Bermuda Alliance, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of the young man who lost his life way too soon.”
Update 2.40pm: A police spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Police Service can confirm it has begun a murder investigation into the death of an eighteen-year-old male, whose lifeless body was found at Southside earlier today [Wednesday, 6th April 2022].
“A passer-by contacted police shortly after 6:30 this morning and reported there was an unresponsive male lying near the roundabout on the roadway leading to Clearwater Beach.
“Police attended the scene and located the body, which bore confirmed gunshot wounds.”
Acting Detective Inspector Jason Smith, of the Serious Crime Unit said, “There was forensic evidence recovered at the scene to confirm the male was shot near where his body was found. We are appealing for anyone who may have heard any suspicious noises or seen anyone acting in a suspicious manner in the area of Tommy Fox Road or near the Gulfstream residences at Southside, between 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday 5th April 2022 and the early hours of today, Wednesday 6th April, 2022, to please get in contact with us.”
“Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Mr. Smith on 717-0864. You may also call 211, the main police number 295-0011, or, Bermuda Crime Stoppers on 800-8477. Alternatively, you may also share any information you might have regarding this incident, by speaking with a police officer with whom you are familiar.
Mr. Smith added, “Yet another young man has been taken away from us and again by means of a senseless act of violence. I urge the public to come forward and tell us what you know, to not only help bring whomever is responsible to justice, but also to bring closure to the family of this young man, who are left to mourn his passing.”
