The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THREE men were shot dead in separate attacks across New Providence over the weekend, including a landscaper whose suspected killers allegedly opened fire on police during a pursuit that ended with three men escaping and an 18-year-old woman under arrest.

Last night, police were investigating a further incident in which two men were shot in the area of Reeves Street, off Fox Hill Road, and transported to hospital by ambulance. Their condition at time of press was unknown.

The killings, which occurred between Friday afternoon and Saturday noon, came amid continuing gun violence in the capital.

The Tribune’s records put the national murder count at 48 by August 4, before the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Abdul Zidor on Fire Trail Road East last week.

The latest violence began shortly before 4pm on Friday near Soldier Road and Blue Hill Road, where police found a 51-year-old man lying face down near an apartment complex with apparent gunshot wounds.

Police said officers from East Street South Police Station and Operation Black Scorpion responded to reports of gunfire.

Emergency Medical Services personnel examined the victim and found no signs of life.

Preliminary investigations indicate the man was in the area when two men emerged from a white Japanese-model vehicle, produced firearms and fired multiple rounds at him.

The gunmen returned to the vehicle and fled east along Soldier Road.Less than 16 hours later, a 52-year-old man was shot dead at his residence on Joe Farrington Road in an attack involving three gunmen. Police said officers from the Mobile Division and Elizabeth Estates Police Station responded shortly after 7am on Saturday and found the victim lying face down inside a yellow apartment building with multiple gunshot wounds.

EMS personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

Police said the man had just arrived home when three men emerged from a silver SUV and approached him.

Two were reportedly armed with high-powered weapons and the third with a handgun.

The gunmen opened fire, prompting the victim to run inside his residence in an attempt to escape, according to preliminary investigations.

Police said the attackers followed him inside and continued shooting, striking him several times before fleeing west along Joe Farrington Road in the SUV.

Another man was killed about five hours later on Gladstone Road, just north of Fire Trail Road.

Police and EMS personnel responding around noon found the 36-year-old victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the man had been carrying out landscaping work on the eastern side of Gladstone Road when a white Japanese-model vehicle pulled up.

Two armed men allegedly got out and opened fire before fleeing north.

The investigation quickly developed into a police pursuit after officers assigned to Operation Black Scorpion intercepted the suspected vehicle in the Pride Estates area.

Police pursued it into Allen Close, where the occupants allegedly opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.

The driver eventually stopped behind a residence and four occupants — an 18-year-old woman and three men — got out.

Police said one of the men, who had been seated in the rear, continued firing at officers. Police returned fire, causing extensive damage to the vehicle.

The three male suspects escaped over a fence.

The 18-year-old driver was later found hiding beneath a bus and was arrested and cautioned in connection with the matter.

Detectives processing the vehicle and surrounding area recovered two high-powered firearms, a handgun and ammunition.