The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DECEASED armed robbery suspect Rony Jean was linked to nearly 30 armed robberies committed over a three-week span, police revealed on Friday. 

Police said their ongoing investigations have revealed that Jean, who was shot and killed by police on Wednesday in Spikenard Cemetery, was linked to 29 armed robberies, all of which involved persons being robbed at gunpoint of their vehicles, jewellery, cell phones and cash. 

However, eight of the vehicles stolen in the various incidents have been recovered, police said.

Jean, a 32-year-old Haitian-Bahamian national, was shot and killed by officers early on Wednesday morning, moments after he impersonated a police sergeant, committed a string of armed robberies and led police on a high-speed chase in the Carmichael Road area. 

Jean was shot by police after he opened fire on the officers in a bid to escape capture, officials said. He later died in hospital. 

In the hours before his death, Jean had committed three armed robberies, according to police. One of the victims was a Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) sergeant.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean, Jean held the officer at gunpoint and robbed him of his official uniform last week. 

ACP Dean said Jean was also wearing the uniform when he robbed three people in three separate incidents on the morning of his death, before leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in Spikenard Cemetery off Cowpen Road. 

Four suspects have been fatally shot by police since last Friday. According to The Tribune's records, there have been six fatal police shootings so far this year.

On Thursday, Bishop Simeon Hall said he has no issue with the recent string of fatal police shootings, adding that the RBPF should "take out" suspects "with all the intensity of how people are tired of these criminals". 

Bishop Hall, pastor emeritus at New Covenant Baptist Church, said while he supports the idea that "all life is precious," police should - if they are being shot at - take some of those people who "don't give five cents about human life and human property" and "put them somewhere forever".  

Meanwhile, police have launched an island-wide manhunt for a 26-year-old man who allegedly threatened to "kill police officers" in retaliation for the recent spate of police shootings. 

In several voice recordings that went viral on social media on Wednesday, the suspect threatened to "shoot" any police officer, urging the police to hide or "be killed".

Officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle has urged the suspect to "turn himself in and make it easier on himself".