Police at the scene of the shooting on Piper Lane and (inset) eight-year-old Camron Cooper. Photo: Terrel W Carey/Tribune staff
By RICARDO WELLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
A seven-year-old boy about to head to his last day of school was fatally shot outside of his Piper Lane home yesterday morning after being hit by a stray bullet.
An adult male believed to be the intended target was also shot during the incident, which police say stemmed from a drug dispute. He remains in hospital.
The child, identified by police as Camron Cooper, was the third person shot and the second to die in two separate incidents in the Wilson Tract/Homestead Street section of the Englerston community in less than 12 hours. A man who was shot around 10pm on Monday in front of his home on Homestead Street died in hospital yesterday morning, police said.
The deaths marked the 37th and 38th homicides for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.
In the latest incident, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, the child, a second-grade student at Columbus Primary, had just left home to get into a vehicle waiting nearby to take him to school.
ACP Fernander said that a short distance away, two men were allegedly involved in a drug dispute in which a firearm was produced by one of the men and shots were fired.
Camron’s body was hit by a stray bullet.
“It is such a sad, sad situation,” ACP Fernander told reporters. “(The child) was later taken to PMH by private vehicle, where he later died.”
Relatives of the boy, who remained at the scene, described him as a loving and easy-going child.
Bobby Brown, who identified herself as the boy’s aunt, said she is shocked at what took place.
She said residents in the community are in fear, adding the ongoing gun violence has forced them indoors and too afraid to go out.
“Too much of the senseless killing, this have to stop, too much of the senseless killings,” she said. “We can’t even come outside and have a talk or stuff like that.
“I was inside at the time of the shooting; my son was getting ready for school so I said let me stay inside and do what I got to do.
“It is sad, this morning would have been his last morning for school. Like he was getting ready for school, his normal way,” she said.
Over at Columbus Primary, the school received news of the tragedy as it prepared for a visit from Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling.
Several counsellors were seen speaking to teachers and students when The Tribune visited the school.
Principal Patricia Chisholm said the school, initially in a joyful mood, found itself in a state of shock and in need of prayer.
“When we heard the news, we immediately got things together for counsellors to come in, we didn’t want the kids to be caught off guard,” she said.
“God is our healer. This is something that one can’t prepare for, but we have to be here for our kids and our teachers in this trying time,” she added.
‘Full force’
Back at the scene, ACP Fernander said the area is known by police as a drug source and is constantly under surveillance.
However, he stressed that the circumstances surrounding yesterday’s incident illustrates a greater need for police presence in the community.
To that end, he assured residents that officers would return to the community in “full force.”
“You will see me out of these clothes. We are going full force in these communities,” he said.
“And we will go in every community where we have information that drugs are being sold and the folks, they will just feel the police presence in these areas.
“. . . I think it is high time that we continue and be consistent with our full court press within these communities where we know that drugs are fueling a lot of these shootings.
“We just can’t continue to talk about it, it’s action time and you will see that as we move forward. And again, we want to just give condolences to the family,” he said.
The man who was shot was listed in stable condition up to press time.
The suspect in this incident is known to police and is believed to be a resident of the area.
ACP Fernander said of the suspect: “The nation, the nation should be concerned about this matter and as they do, the public always comes to our assistance and I just want to press on them to do the same to let’s flush out this person.
“He should not be, this culprit, this coward, he should not be out there another hour. And we are going to get the information out there to you, the members of the public.”
On Monday night, a man was shot a few blocks over from yesterday’s scene.
According to police, the man was standing outside his home when he was approached by two armed men in hoodies. The men opened fire, striking the man about the body before vacating the area.
The man, Michael Johnson, 18, was taken to hospital by private vehicle where he died a few hours later.
ACP Fernander said police don’t believe the two incidents are connected, but appealed to residents to assist police with any information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Police said last night that two suspects were in custody in connection with yesterday’s shooting.
Comments
jackbnimble 6 years, 5 months ago
How sad. I wonder if Dr. Minnis and his wife will be visiting the grieving mother?
K4C 6 years, 5 months ago
there is a time and a place to play politics, this is neither the time nor the place , show something called compassion
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 5 months ago
Exactly Dr Minnis should stop playing politics with family tragedies. If he wants to pay respects do it privately, no one needs to know. Condolences to the family
DDK 6 years, 5 months ago
Terrible. Terrible. Another young child has lost his life. No matter what Dames & Co. say, crime is way out of control and getting worse; when innocents are slain and all you hear is "The Royal Bahamas Police Force is appealing to the public to come forward with any information that can assist in the case" you have to wonder if any of those khaki suits with their batons DO anything to investigate themselves. They obviously do need help!
JohnDoes 6 years, 5 months ago
What type of arguments do 'big man' get into so early in the morning that involves a gun and the loss of such innocence as a result.
TalRussell 6 years, 5 months ago
Is it just me noticing how PM Minnis, seems to have 'blindsided' his comrade minister peoples security... scary considering when he 'backdoored' minister environment - then accused media promoting fake news about him - we ended up with OBAN and the Fake signature costing Grand Bahamalanders 650 acres they properties.
UserOne 6 years, 5 months ago
Did you see the post above? This not the time or place for politics.
bogart 6 years, 5 months ago
SAD. THAT CHILDREN ARE VICTIMS. RIP.
WE NEED TO STOP PUSSYFOOTING SUCKING UP TO THESE VICIOUS MURDERS AND START HANGING......IT IS THE EMPIRICALLY GUARRANTEED WAY TO REMOVE THEM. ....RIGHT NOW AINT NOBODY HAVE NO MONEY TO SPEND SOME $14,000 TO FEED AN WATCH THEM IN FOXHILL. HE WHO LIVES BY THE SWORD.....FOLLOW THE LAW AN HANG !!!
sheeprunner12 6 years, 5 months ago
Why was the child not at school ...... a second/third grader??????
DDK 6 years, 5 months ago
AN eight-year-old boy was fatally shot outside of his Piper Lane home this morning as he was on his way to his last day of school.
John 6 years, 5 months ago
Sheeprunner again you demonstrate ignorance. The article clearly says the shooting occurred at 7 a.m. where were your children at that hour. In school I bet.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 5 months ago
An oversight on my behalf ..... Noted correction.
John 6 years, 5 months ago
Is it time to cry ‘Havoc! Let slip the dogs of war.’
jamani2 6 years, 5 months ago
This destruction of young lives in our country has to stop. This will also take bold leadership. I strongly recommend that our leaders look at the Singapore model as it relates to crime.
DDK 6 years, 5 months ago
Singapore may be a tad harsh, but it sure bears looking at! Our model certainly is failing.
jamani2 6 years, 5 months ago
Coupled with providing the youth with jobs and an economic means of survival, I don't see it as harsh at all. As Bob Marley said, "A hungry mob is an angry mob." We must first do everything within our power to feed our people, educate them, make sure they understand what the consequences are for their action, leaders must lead by example, take away exposure to what is socially and morally contaminating our kids. Not everything that the wind blows in from the north is necessarily good.
Aegeaon 6 years, 5 months ago
Not everything Bahamian is good either. Remember the 80's drug bloom, that was our mistake.
rawbahamian 6 years, 5 months ago
We all have to forgive Tal for his immature invective and outlook on life due to his lack of accepting that his floundering 'yellow' shirts were displaced thereby causing him to politicise everything regardless of the circumstances. I am sure if he is still here during the Christ's second coming and his party members don't make it into heaven, he will blame "The Imperial Red Shirts" !
John 6 years, 5 months ago
Plane crash on Eleuthera
Sickened 6 years, 5 months ago
Splay the shooter once he is found.
TalRussell 6 years, 5 months ago
Talk has a note was found under rock way back bushes Mount Moriah with "SOS" sign that had spelled out "HELP" I've been sidelined by PMO, signed comrade minister peoples security, Marvin
Jetflt 6 years, 5 months ago
TalRussell, you make no sense when you write or speak for that matter. You talk more BS than I can piece together!
So sad for that little boy! What a senseless waste of a beautiful life! Hope they catch and shoot the SOB that killed that boy!
bogart 6 years, 5 months ago
Murder of this little boy is a NATIONAL TRAJEDY.
Gut wrenching grief and sorrow.....likely to be made worse by some accused murderer ...pleading ' NOT GUILTY'...let out on bail ....eventually tried and found guilty.....being sentenced to many years ....but in actuality prison years is less......and after knowing the illegal gun was intentionally....pointed at the little boy's house and the gun was intentionally fired....fully knowing the consequence of the bullet would kill.....!!!!!! someone would be sorry for the mudereer ..and let him live saying he can be reformed..!!!!!!!.....sum total is that it seems a ......human life trajically taken, murdered, cut short, baby youth on way to school.innocent, did nothing in the world to deserve this viscious terrprist attack, milk still on he mouth...= a number of years in prison for the murderer usually hiding he face under he ma skirt over he head on way to court...to jail....where family and friends can visit, convenience store, tv.
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