The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

A BODYGUARD attached to Prime Minister Perry Christie was shot several times late Monday night during an armed robbery off East Street.

According to police, the bodyguard, who is a sergeant on the Royal Bahamas Police Force, had just pulled into the driveway of a home on Olde Corner when two men with handguns approached and demanded cash. A struggle followed and the officer, Sgt Brent Dixon, was shot three times - twice in the back and once in the hip.

The officer returned fire and shot one of the suspects, police said.

However, the other suspect fled the area on foot.

The officer and suspect were taken to hospital by ambulance.

Sources said the officer underwent emergency surgery and is listed in serious, but stable condition. The suspect, who was shot in the leg, is in stable condition and under heavy police guard.

Officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander said police are following several leads and hope to have the case wrapped up “very soon.”

In August 2014, Mr Christie’s press secretary, Latore Mackey, was shot dead on Market Street around 4.30am.

And in June 2013, Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ police aide, Sergeant Andrew Sweeting, was shot in the hand and abdomen in what police said was a botched armed robbery in Gleniston Gardens.

At the time, Mr Davis said the incident was evidence of the country’s crime problems.

“(Crime) is still unacceptably high and what it tells us is that none of us are safe from what is going on in our country today and it means that all of us must come together again to make a concerted effort to stop this scourge of crime,” Mr Davis said in 2013, in the wake of the shooting.

Sgt Sweeting has since recovered. He was not with Mr Davis as the time of the shooting.