Update – Shooting Investigations
Wed, 2008-02-20
Chief Inspector Antoine Daniels, Officer in Charge of the Serious Crime Unit
The Bermuda Police Service is extremely encouraged by the amount of assistance received from the public regarding the Christmas Eve and Boxing Day shooting incidents, in which 2 men were wounded and 30 year-old Southampton resident Aquil Richardson was tragically killed. The investigations are both progressing under the leadership of myself and 2 investigation teams. Officers investigating these matters have received many calls from members of the public offering information regarding the shootings. As a result several lines of inquiry are being pursued. To date there have been over 100 witness statements recorded by investigators, as well as numerous positive interactions with potential witnesses and persons of interest. Additionally, the shooting investigations have resulted in a number of arrests being made and remain on Police bail pending further investigations.
As the officer directly responsible for leading these inquiries I would like to use this opportunity to thank all of those persons who have come forward and assisted officers in their pursuit of the perpetrators responsible for committing these violent and unnecessary acts. Indeed, the Bermuda Police Service’s capacity to deal with crime depends to a large extent upon its relationship with the community.
Although the Bermuda Police Service is pleased with the co-operation of the community so far, we would like to make a further appeal encouraging those individuals with relevant information about the Christmas Eve and/or Boxing Day shootings, particularly eye witnesses to these events, to contact Police. Anyone who has any information whether they believe it to be significant or not, are asked to telephone 299-4315 or the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-623-8477.
In closing I would just like to say that as a result of my close links within the community and information gathered through Police investigations, I have being hearing whispers regarding the victims of the recent shootings, as well as those occurring previously being associated with a certain lifestyle. In response to that, the BPS does not make judgments of anyone and treat every case with the same high-level of seriousness and professionalism. The island’s small size does not allow for such characterizations to be made taking into consideration that these shooting incidents occurred in public places; therefore, the impact is profound in that 1 stray round can kill or injure an unintended target.
The reality of the situation is that we as a community are all in far more danger if witnesses continue to remain silent. If Bermuda’s citizens are serious about a fight against crime and in particular violent crime, let us stand tall together in an effort to eradicate these types of unacceptable behaviours which if allowed to continue, threatens to destroy our Island.
