The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A WELL-KNOWN resident of Smith’s Point was gunned down as he and his companion were on their routine daily walk in the Fortune Bay Drive area of Freeport yesterday evening.

While police have not released the man’s name the victim is believed to be Cedric Hepburn, the operator of CLA Trucking.

Hepburn, who is believed to be in his 40s, was shot multiple times in his body and died at the scene. His female companion was not harmed.

The shooting occurred shortly before 6pm near the North Star Resort. The area is a quiet, upscale subdivision where multi-million dollar residential developments and homes are located.

This is the seventh homicide in Grand Bahama this year and Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour said police do not know the motive for the shooting.

“Our initial investigations suggest that a male and a female were walking down the street on their regular daily exercise when gunshots rang out. The male was shot several times about the body and later succumbed on the scene,” he said.

Mr Seymour said multiple spent casings were on the ground surrounding the body. “We do not know the motive. We don’t know who could have done this or whether there was one or more persons responsible. Our task is to determine who are responsible for this latest homicide.”

ACP Seymour said police expect to release the identity of the victim sometime today after an official identification of the body is made.

A team of detectives and police officers were at the scene collecting evidence and keeping a crowd of onlookers at bay. A number of people had gathered in the area, including the victim’s brother, insurance executive John Hepburn. He was seen being comforted by friends and family members.

Peter Turnquest, the MP for East Grand Bahama, was also among those at the scene. This is the second murder that has taken place in his constituency.

On April 8, British citizen Edgar George Dart, 56, was also shot and killed in the upscale residential subdivision of Emerald Bay when armed intruders broke into his mother’s home around 7am. The intruders tied up six of Dart’s family members and robbed them of jewellery and personal items.

ACP Emrick Seymour is appealing to anyone who might have seen anything or have information that might help the police with their investigations to contact them.