Sanchez Gittens
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN rushing a stabbing victim to the hospital crashed into a wall after seeing her friend take his last breath as her birthday celebration night turned to tragedy.
Toyza Stubbs, the sister of Sanchez Gittens, the country’s latest murder victim, told The Tribune that her brother did not want to go out on Saturday, but did so not to disappoint his friend, who was celebrating her birthday.
Gittens was stabbed multiple times at a bar around East Street and Soldier Road around 2am. His friend was taking him to the hospital when she lost control of the car and crashed into a wall near East Street and Sands Lane.
Ms Stubbs said the friend lost control of the car because she watched him take his last breath.
“The girl called me crying, telling me she was so sorry and she felt responsible, but that can’t bring my brother back,” she said.
“It was her birthday, and he didn’t want to go, and she keep calling, and he said man, I gon’ just go and I gon’ come back, and my mummy say where you going, and he said mummy, I’m only going for two hours because I don’t want to disappoint her.”
Ms Stubbs said her brother dreamed of playing professional basketball and planned to move to California next month to pursue his dream.
“They took that away from him,” she said.
“His heart was basketball. That’s what he wanted to do all of his life from the age of eight. They killed my brother for no reason. They killed him four days before my birthday.”
She recalled her last moments with her brother, when the two were in her room laughing over a joke she had made before he left the house.
“I told him be safe and if anything happen, call me because if he’s out and a fight break out, he’ll always call and say sis come for me cuz they fighting, and I’ll always pick him up from wherever he is.”
She said hours later, a group of girls came to her house crying, saying: “They just stab up Sanny, y’all need to go to the hospital.”
She said a police friend told her go to the station to prevent the family from seeing the crash scene.
Ms Stubbs said she was told her brother was leaving the bar because a group of girls with him started fighting.
She said as he walked to his car, a man came “fooling with him because my brother sucked his teeth and say they’re girls”.
“He ain’t getting in nobody business because he never liked confusion.
“They said he sit in the car, and the boy just gone there to fight him and stab him up in the car.”
The family suspects the man killed Gittens “over a girl he was only friends with”.
Her family is shocked and heartbroken.
“I haven’t slept for two days, and I can’t eat,” she said. “I have to stay strong for my mother and that was my baby. Everywhere I go, he go.”
She said her brother was quiet and humble. Sometimes, she said, he would wait on the porch until she arrived home safely.
Police said a 26-year-old man is in custody helping them with their investigation.
Comments
stillwaters 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I just wonder if family members know how much hidden information they give about these fellows when they interview with these news outlets. As I read, I'm getting. a sense of a life of parties, clubs, fights, and that hand signal..........speaks for itself. Professional basketball player.......well......
birdiestrachan 9 months, 3 weeks ago
What signs are his hands showing it means something I do not know what but I am sorry he has lost his life no reason for that young with a full life ahead a gift from God
ThisIsOurs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
"Hand signals"? Hard rockers, wrestlers, surfers and Pacific Islanders have been using those hand signals for decades.
Maybe he doesnt like using the bunny ear/peace sign in his pics. He's young, he likes to go to night clubs like most young people, his nightclub of choice is East St because that's where he fits in and can afford the entrance fee. Plenty people had to run from fights when the Zoo was open on cable beach.
Honestman 9 months, 3 weeks ago
There is no safe bar or club in New Providence. If young people value their lives they need to socialise with good friends only and away from these places where death can visit over a spilled drink, a misread expression or innocently getting caight up in someone else's argument. It is sad but that seems to be the reality of life for young people in The Bahamas.
John 9 months, 3 weeks ago
The question is where did this generation of freelance killers come from? One internationally known pastor predicts that the killings of young, Black men will get worse. Even to the point of there being a male shortage. He advises women to pray for their husbands and their sons and fathers to pray for themselves and their sons. Men are at risk and one should not attempt to justify murder.
birdiestrachan 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Mr pintard the sand and mr white will blame the PLP and the police for this because they did not stop this young man from going out mr white used his time on the house floor to count murders, it is his badge of honor the FNM according to them have the answer to crime, when they become the government they have the magic to stop all crime but the people will remain the same and the police will remain the same,
wellsy242 9 months, 3 weeks ago
birdie, it was Davis who said he had a national crime fighting plan before coming into office. He said he would get things done on day 1. Day 1 has long been gone and nothing has happened. It was the PLP who counted murders by placing billboard signs up.
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