The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

SHOCKWAVES rippled through the fitness community yesterday after the bullet-riddled body of former bodybuilder and restaurateur Albert Rahming was found in his car on the Montagu foreshore yesterday morning.

The fatal shooting of the 49-year-old father of three, and owner of the popular nightspot Via Caffe opposite the entrance to the cruise port in downtown Nassau, was said to be a devastating blow to loved ones, who praised the deceased’s compassionate spirit and hailed him as a “pillar of the bodybuilding and fitness world”.

Police have launched an investigation into the country’s 88th homicide for the year, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean, who said last night that investigators did not have a motive at this time.

Mr Rahming, who cut a physically imposing figure, was found slumped in the driver’s seat with gunshot injuries in a Mercedes Benz parked by the coast east of the Montagu ramp. Last night, police said they were looking for a vehicle of interest - a silver Honda Accord, licence number 215220 - believed to be occupied by four men.

A member of the Valley Boys Junkanoo group, Mr Rahming also had several business endeavours. He was a ex-shareholder of the former web shop chain Fantasy.

In October, 2015, he filed legal action against other shareholders, alleging that the sale of the web shop to FML Group of Companies violated the Companies Act, and that he had not received a single cent from the deal as compensation for his 38.125 per cent equity holding.

Yesterday afternoon, Via Caffe was closed and a sign on the doors said normal business hours would resume today.

“Choking back tears, long-time friend and former employee Della Thomas tried to put into words the indelible loss of Mr Rahming’s death.

“I met Albert in the early ‘80s,” she told The Tribune. “He was always a nice, quiet, gentle guy, that’s the spirit he always had. He became just like a brother to me, such a sweet person. I can’t imagine how his family and mother feel, because it’s such a big loss for us - he was one of the nice ones. I’m really, really sorry (about) what happened to him.

“He was passionate about fitness but passionate about people too,” she added. “He never used foul language. I really don’t know what’s happening with our country, there is a lot of confusion. People are just killing each other. Albert was a nice guy.”

His death follows a double murder in East Grand Bahama earlier this month. Two men were killed and three others were injured in a shooting on November 3 in McLeans Town.

Yesterday, Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation Vice-President Kenny Green said: “We are presently grieving the loss of a pillar in the bodybuilding and fitness world. We wish to express our heartfelt and warmest condolences with family. We are grieving the loss of someone who was compassionate and very caring who gave much to the society at large as a businessman and sports enthusiast.

“He always gave his best and sacrificed his time and personal funds, whatever he did, he did it to the best of his abilities. It’s a sombre mood across the bodybuilding circle and the business community and he has several other businesses. Society is really in turmoil, we need to come together and stop this criminal rampage. We need to show love and demonstrate love in our lifestyle.”

Mr Green added: “[Mr Rahming] is gone but never will be forgotten. He’s touched some of our lives in a personal way, giving positive advice, competing with us on stage, he made invaluable contributions. He was very critical on time management, very professional, but a people’s person, just a compassionate person.

“We’re going to have to step up, do what’s necessary for unity. We have to put God first, we have to live God in our hearts and through our lifestyle.”

Long-time friend Nardo Dean reflected on Mr Rahming’s past endeavours as a College of the Bahamas graduate, former food and beverage director at the Atlantis resort, and operator of the gym BodyZone.

“From high school days, coming into COB, as he matured and got into business working at Atlantis in food and beverage, he was always willing to reach out, give good advice and a helping hand,” Mr Dean said. “For us as a federation, we definitely mourn his loss. There was some talk for a while about him coming back to the sport - he got so busy that he stopped competing.

“[His death] it was a shock, but not a shock because he’s a nightclub owner. In our day and age, persons target who they feel may have money. We don’t want to think anything negative, we don’t want to think anything ill-related. He never portrayed that at all as a person,” Mr Dean said.

Police cordoned off a section of Eastern Road between the Nassau Sailing Club and New Gate Road and diverted traffic for several hours after the discovery was made. Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to contact the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or the Crime Stoppers hotline anonymously at 328-TIPS.