The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

BUSINESSMAN Cedric Hepburn received a death threat from an unknown caller several hours before he was gunned down at Fortune Bay Drive, according to close relatives who revealed that he had been getting threats by phone.  

The “execution style” murder took place shortly before 6pm on Wednesday as Mr Hepburn, 47, and his girlfriend, Cara, were on their routine daily walk. It is understood that she and their two children were walking ahead of Mr Hepburn when he was ambushed and fired on. She did not hear anything or see anyone because she was wearing headphones.

Mr Hepburn is believed to have suffered a shot in his head and some 11 shots in his body. He died at the scene. Police do not know the motive behind the shooting, or who might have wanted the heavy equipment operator from Smith’s Point dead.

Family members were at Rand Memorial Hospital around 1pm yesterday to officially identify the body. Police have classified the incident as the seventh homicide in Grand Bahama for 2014. 

Mr Hepburn operated CLH Backhoe and Trucking in Smith’s Point. Family, friends, and employees at CHL are devastated. He is the father of six children.

Nephews Irvin Smith Jr and Patrick Malone worked with their uncle at CLH.  They were saddened after seeing a photo, circulated on social media sites, of Mr Hepburn lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

“We are all taking this hard,” said Mr Smith, one of 10 employees. “That is my uncle and I just cannot believe what has happened. He was a good man and did not deserve to die like that – they kill him like a dog in the street. It’s just senseless.”

Mr Malone believes that the shooting was a hit and said his uncle had been receiving threatening calls.

Mr Smith said Mr Hepburn had received a death threat in the early afternoon, at about 1pm or 2pm on Wednesday. “He worked with us all day and when I was leaving work around 5pm I pat him on the shoulder and said, ‘boss, take it easy’.  When I arrived home, I got a call that ‘my boss got shot up,’ “ he recalled.  

“We know it was a hit. He was shot once in the head and 11 in the body,” he said.

Mr Hepburn is a well-known resident of Smith’s Point who was embroiled in a land dispute with the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Grand Bahama Development Company.

He had been expected to appear in court in New Providence yesterday in relation to the land dispute.

Last year, Mr Hepburn took his tractor and blocked the entrance to Fortune Cay Development, a gated residential community on Fortune Bay Drive. It was in protest over the land ownership dispute involving some 10 acres of land that the Hepburn brothers claim rightfully belonged to their family. Mr Hepburn alleged that the 10 acres of land is part of that gated community.

Mr Smith and Mr Malone said his Uncle Cedric was a stern boss, but was always concerned about their welfare. 

Mr Smith claims that his uncle had also received threatening calls on other occasions. “He made a complaint to the police and every time he changed his phone number somebody get it and threaten him.”

Mr Malone said that Mr Hepburn’s death is a big loss to the family. “The entire family is grieving and we want people to know that he was the best. I hope they find who did this,” he said. 

Community activist Troy Garvey said he has lost a good friend and fellow activist. Mr Hepburn was one of four founding members, with Mr Garvey, Etienne Farquharson and Jan Shiloh, of Determined for Absolute Change (DFAC), a new civic group that was formed four months ago. 

“Grand Bahama has lost an icon, a family man, a go-getter, and an activist. He will be greatly missed. This was an execution style killing and it really hurts that he was taken that way. We would like to see whoever is responsible brought to justice,” Mr Garvey said.

He extended personal condolences on behalf of his family and DFAC to the Hepburn family.