By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THE Easter holiday weekend was marred by bloodshed after a father of three and business owner was shot in his head multiple times and killed as he opened his convenience store early Sunday morning in one of three separate shootings in New Providence.
Police have not officially released his identity, but The Tribune understands he is 37-year-old Paul “Pablo” Newchurch Sr. He had previously been convicted of armed robbery and served a lengthy prison sentence at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, The Tribune was told. He was also married.
His death pushed the country’s murder count to 29 for the year, according The Tribune’s records.
According to police, shortly after 5.30am, the victim had just opened his convenience store on Kemp Road, when he was shot multiple times.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Superintendent at the Central Detective Unit Clayton Fernander said no one has been taken into custody and police do not yet have a motive. He said investigators were following one or two lines of inquiry in relation to this matter.
However, a relative who did not want to be identified said it is believed that the murder was the result of an argument between the victim and another man on Saturday.
Meanwhile the victims injured in the two other incidents, including a woman, are reported to be recovering in hospital.
Hours before Sunday’s murder, at around 3am, a man had just arrived at his home on Ross Corner and East Street, when a gunman approached him and fired a single shot before fleeing on foot.
The victim was then rushed to the hospital where police said he is in serious condition.
Later, at around 8am Sunday, police said a man and a woman were inside their home at Minnie Street, when a man armed with a handgun approached and shot the couple before fleeing on foot.
Police said they were taken to the hospital where they remain in stable condition.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding these cases, no matter how small or insignificant the tip may seem, to anonymously contact police at 919, Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS, or at 1-242-300-8477 in the family islands.
Comments
lazybor 8 years, 7 months ago
as usual...
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Godson 8 years, 7 months ago
THE DISPENSABLE BAHAMIANS... is there such a creature?
No... he was not a teacher at Queens College; and no... he was not Branville McCartneys' brother. Nor was he was Richard Demerit's son. He was not related to the prominent businessman from Grand Bahamas Arne Petersen either. He was not the brother of Fayne Thompson... No, not none of these. Sorry... he was no family to former Cabinet Minister Charles 'Chuck' Virgil. He was absolutely not the son of Leslie Miller, M.P.
His death leaves behind a wife and two small children to care for.
Who was he? Was he simply a dispensable Bahamian? Is there such a creature called 'a dispensable Bahamian'? We are more likely to get a national answer when one of theirs is killed again.
With whomever his family ties may be, apparently, he was a dispensable Bahamian. The outcry as a result of this tragedy can hardly be called deafening. Our senses are getting duller as the tragedies unfold.
Bahamians, is this the pride and joy intended from Majority Rule?... Is this what is meant by 'Upward', 'Onward' and 'Together'?
Godson 'Nicodemus' Johnson
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
Do these gun-toting young men even realize that when they pull the trigger that they will actually kill another human being?????? ............... this is not child's play with toys ...... but this is the impression that we get of many of these young men who commit crimes of violence/passion/revenge nowadays .............. like watching a movie scene
John 8 years, 7 months ago
Some Bahamians are convinced that there is some vigilante gang operating in the Bahamas and many believe it is responsible for at least half the murders in this country over the past 10 years. Some believe that police may be involved either individually or as a team. In fact one police officer who died recently told his wife some things that left her so disturbed she had to seek medical help and eventually left the country. The fact is there are too many young men being killed in this country. Too many murders are being left unsolved. And too many Bahamians are buying into the comfort when a young man is 'executed'. That he was a bad boy. That he was known to police. That he was on bail. That he was wearing an ankle bracelet. But you need to know who killed the young man. What are his credentials that make him qualify to be a grim reaper of souls? What does his criminal record look like? How many other persons has he killed in the name of justice?
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