Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander is pictured speaking with the media after Monday’s shooting. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
POLICE shot and killed another armed assailant near a school playground yesterday, marking the 11th fatal police-involved shooting since November 2017.
There have been six fatal police shootings so far this year.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, the suspect was sought by police in connection with several recent shootings, including an exchange with officers near Peach Street earlier this month.
ACP Fernander said: “What we have here is, about a week and a half ago, officers responded after receiving calls that an individual was on Homestead Street firing shots. Officers responded and gathered some information.”
He added: “An individual also made a complaint that some unknown male fired a shot at him. Based on that information officers went to Peach Street which is just off Mackey Street where they found the individual who was responsible that time for the shooting.
“The individual, the suspect, was able to elude the police and he dropped the firearm.”
“The weapon was recovered. The officers, from then to now, were on the look-out to try and find this suspect.”
ACP Fernander said police, acting on general information, went to the Wulff Road area around 6.30am, in the vicinity of Columbus Primary School, where they met the deceased.
“He appeared to have been trying to dodge the police . . . he turned and attacked the officers with a knife,” he told reporters.
Subsequently, he said officers in fear for their lives opened fire and fatally shot the suspect.
ACP Fernander also confirmed that the deceased was known by police and may have been on bail for some other offence. A knife was recovered from the scene yesterday, he said.
Coroner Jeanine Weech-Gomez will investigate the matter.
The incident came less than 24 hours after police shot and killed a man suspected of perpetrating a drug deal at Cedar Way, off Carmichael Road.
Officers said the deceased, upon noticing them, opened fire and was fatally shot in return. Upon examination of the suspect’s vehicle, police said they recovered a weapon and a kilo of suspected cocaine.
Last month, a man who residents say was blind, was shot and killed by police, prompting an angry confrontation between residents and police in the Plantol Street and East Street area where the shooting occurred.
Police said they responded to reports of gunshots in the area, and when they arrived they saw two men on a motorbike – one of them aimed a firearm in the direction of officers.
However, police could not say whether the man who was shot and killed was the one who brandished the weapon. There was no report that a weapon was recovered from the scene.
Comments
Future 6 years, 2 months ago
One more piece of trash thrown in the dump. Keep this good work up and we will have a clean Bahamas again
DEDDIE 6 years, 2 months ago
Happy until it is your son. Something is wrong when the police have kill more person in the last three month than they did in the previous two years before that period. Something is wrong when the police don't even have to account for the persons they kill.
John 6 years, 2 months ago
Will Fred Smith now have. To police the police?
rawbahamian 6 years, 2 months ago
Well Deddie, wait until it's your son these criminals kill and don't have to account for it !!!
DEDDIE 6 years, 2 months ago
I guess you would be happier if I said, the police should be able to kill anyone and they should not have to account for it.
joeblow 6 years, 2 months ago
What is clear is that criminal elements with weapons are involved! History has shown criminals are not afraid to mortally injure others! That scenario does not lend itself to interviewing criminals before taking decisive action!
These arguments only make sense if there is no threat AND the police use excessive force!
DDK 6 years, 2 months ago
Who is more out of control, the criminals or the police? Fancy a man with a knife taking on a gang of armed police! Obviously no police cams, any witnesses?
DonAnthony 6 years, 2 months ago
Have been saying this for a long time, there needs to be some intermediate options for police to subdue a dangerous suspect. We need tasers, better than police scuffling on the ground endangering themselves, and far better than the use of a gun and deadly force on a suspect. Especially for a person wielding a knife, if they have a gun well if they do not submit then they will have to be shot.
licks2 6 years, 2 months ago
DA I must agree with you. . .I have my "feelings" about how "in your face" out criminals have become. . .shooting down anybody, anytime or anywhere. . .but shooting down a man with a knife? I have a problem with that! But again I was not on the scene. . .a man who knows how to use a knife good can become a serious danger to a person. . .even one with a gun! The taser idea kindda sit better with me in this case. . .but what I know. . .I was not there! But hope we don't have a police force who has "gone rogue" to clean up our streets . . .the danger of that is when will they turn their attention on us. . .
joeblow 6 years, 2 months ago
You want police to point a taser at a scared, hardened criminal with a gun? Please!
birdiestrachan 6 years, 2 months ago
Really he was wanted for fire arms? But he approached the police with a knife.
Future 6 years, 2 months ago
If my son did that, then he deserves to be shot....and when he's lying on the ground, .....he know what he did why he got his ass shot
bogart 6 years, 2 months ago
Lucky the police got to him at 7am Monday morning in the primary schools playground before some of those parents or were there children already dropped off at school. Anyone wanted over possession of illegal firearms found in a childrens school playground...and producing a knife is a suicide by cop who will defend themselves. '....officers discharged their weapons and wounded him'..well his demise could be from a number of causes...and even being tazed can kill...who knows what preexisting medical conditions...up to the coroner. Man wid knive in childrens school playground school day??
TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago
Ma Comrade Marvin, how many the six killed this far for year 2018 ALONE were as a result policeman's response to an "emergency?" Question Two: How many were shot at BUT NOT classified as killed by policeman's fire since May 10, 2017?. Question Three: What evidence rules were followed to asks eyewitnesses what they witnessed at the scene? Question Four: How many times did the policeman's draw their weapons on civilians since May 10, 2017? Question Five: The ranks of all policeman's involved in all the above gun incidents?
Will the minister make the above non speculative statistics available to the Peoples Public, and within 72 hours?
IRussell 6 years, 2 months ago
The police are doing a great job 100%
OldFort2012 6 years, 2 months ago
Dear Mr. Policeman, please ignore all above bleeding hearts. You are doing a great job. We are asking you to do something very hard and dangerous and be assured that you have the ABSOLUTE support of the vast majority of the Bahamian People. Keep on taking out the trash.
The Bahamian People
PS: if you need more ammo or better firearms which kill for sure, just ask and it shall be given.
Future 6 years, 2 months ago
AMEN, OLDFART
stillwaters 6 years, 2 months ago
Uncalled for
John 6 years, 2 months ago
Ok so let’s give the police the doubt of the benefit: let’s assume the police are right and criminals have been pulling guns on knives on police officers. And as a result of their actions they are being killed. So unless there’s an inordinate number of criminals out there with a death wish, more specifically criminals who wish to be killed by the police the shouldn’t the number of persons enganging the police in gunfire and drawing knives decrease and not increase? Then what is it is a rogue police force with a ‘hit’ list or with a profile of criminals they want to kill? Then the next manifestation you will see is police officers turning against each other. Shooting at each other and even killing each other. You will see officers tripping out and losing their minds. Being committed to Sandilands and being dismissed from the force. Because killing is not a casual event. It is very serious. And by then the foreigners who you have partnered with and jinxed you to kill your brother will have gone. They will have fled with a clear conscience. Because to then killing comes natural.
John 6 years, 2 months ago
Are you your brother’s keeper or are you Cain?
TalRussell 6 years, 2 months ago
Ma Comrades, guessing from the hard nosed posts - its best forget all about calling an ambulance to the scenes policeman's shootings or providing the victims with aftercare BahamaCARE is out the question?
The one solution to curtailing all shootings in the Bahamaland - just might be to allow all the resident population and tourists to legally indulge in smoking their joints and home baking their brownies - if they does choose to indulge. People who are high - don't even fists fight much less shoot people.
Amen!
John 6 years, 2 months ago
Ok so let’s give the police the doubt of the benefit: let’s assume the police are right and criminals have been pulling guns and knives on police officers. And as a result of their actions they are being killed. Shot multiple times until there is no life in them, none. So unless there’s an inordinate number of criminals out there with a death wish, more specifically criminals who wish to be killed by the police then shouldn’t the number of persons engaging the police in gunfire and drawing knives on police officers decrease and not increase? Then what is it then? Is it a rogue police force with a ‘hit’ list or with, at least a profile of criminals they want to kill? Then the next manifestation you will see is police officers turning against each other. Shooting at each other and even killing each other. You will see officers tripping out and losing their minds. Being committed to Sandilands and being dismissed from the force. Because killing is not a casual event. And the conscience doe not take a vacation. In fact it work overtime when you do something wrong. That is why most criminals end up getting caught It is very serious. And by then the foreigners who you have partnered with and jinxed you to kill your brother will have gone. They will have fled with a clear conscience. Because to then killing comes natural.
hrysippus 6 years, 2 months ago
Quis Custodes Custodi ?
BMW 6 years, 2 months ago
you are dead dumb to be attacking a police officer/officers even if some imaginary foreigner has jinxed you? Now that's talking fool! LOL Keep up the good work police force and defend yourselves as needed.
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