The Tribune

UPDATE: Two male suspects are in now in custody in connection with this incident.

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ANOTHER man on bail has been gunned down in daylight, with the fifth murder in six days occurring Friday afternoon.

In the wake of the killing, police promised that hundreds of officers will swarm the streets as they unleash a "major assault" against criminals in the country.

The victim, the 77th person to be murdered this year, was in a Honda with another man and a woman near the Oakes Field roundabout when two men came and fired several shots in their vehicle, injuring the man.

Although initial police reports said two people were shot, Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dean said police are trying to verify the report.

The shooting took place around 4pm.

Mr Dean said officers were in the area and heard the shots. They confronted the suspects who fled on foot.

"It was a life and death situation and they had to look at saving the lives of the people who were shot in the car," he said, implying they stopped the chase to look after the victims. "We can tell you that the persons in the vehicle were able to drive (to an area) where the male was pronounced dead. Because of the alert officers, because of the operations what we have in place right now, officers were in range to almost secure these suspects. I can tell you we know who they are so we should expect this matter to be wrapped up very shortly. We can reassure the Bahamian public because I know we've been hearing a lot recently about these shootings, going forward they will see a major assault, hundreds of police officers will be on the streets of New Providence seeking out these persons and preventing such incidents from happening."

"We can tell you we have begun to target some prolific offenders so to speak and we will be bringing them into custody. You will see people being brought over the next days to court."

The victim in today's shooting was on bail for a serious offense, Mr Dean said, adding he was being electronically monitored.

The murder count for the year is 77.