The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A MAN attending a wake at a home off Mackey Street was shot and killed during a gunfight on Friday night, becoming one of three men killed in New Providence over a two-day period.

Up to press time, the country’s murder count stood at 105, according to The Tribune’s records.

Saturday’s murder victim was killed in the Pinewood Gardens area shortly after 2pm.

According to Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle, head of the Central Detective Unit, three gunmen opened fire on a group of people who were standing on Jumbey Street, fatally injuring one of them.

He said: “We know that the victim was standing in the street along with a group of persons when a person pulled up in a silver vehicle. Three of them exited and began shooting into the crowd as the men ran. One was struck. He was pronounced dead on the scene.”

Another person was shot during this incident and is listed as stable in hospital.

Police have not officially released the victim’s identity.

In another incident, police said shortly after 11pm on Friday, they received reports of gunshots being fired at Shady Tree Lane, near The Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts.

Once officers reported to the scene, they discovered a man on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. The man was declared dead on the scene.

According to police, the victim was one of hundreds of people who were attending a wake in the area.

The incident occurred after a fight began between some of the wake’s attendees, which resulted in an exchange of gunfire.

Two other people, a man and woman, were shot during the gun attack. Police said while the male victim is in serious condition in hospital, the woman is in stable condition.

Chief Superintendent Rolle appealed to eyewitnesses of the shooting to come forward to police. He said someone must have seen something because there were around 200 to 300 people attending the wake.

Shortly after responding to this incident, police observed a white Honda Accord speeding on Mackey Street. Upon ordering the vehicle to stop, police carried out a search and recovered a nine-millimeter pistol from driver’s waist. Police believe he was one of the gunmen involved in this murder. He was taken into custody.

However, police said they believe there was more than one gunman involved.

The incident came after a 29-year-old resident of Yellow Elder Gardens and father-of-one was shot to death while driving through McCullough Corner around 2.30am on Friday.

Police have identified him as John Bentley Curling also known as “BJ”.

Police said the victim was driving a 1993 Toyota Corolla in the area when several men attempted to stop him.

Despite attempting to flee his assailants who produced handguns and began discharging shots into his vehicle, he was struck and crashed into a wall a short distance away.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.