A man was shot dead last night in a densely packed neighbourhood overlooking the Southampton Rangers Club.

At a hastily convened press conference at the scene, a police spokesman said: “The Bermuda Police Service responded to a report of a confirmed firearm incident that took place this evening at around 8.30pm in the South Avenue-Sunnyside Park area in Southampton.

“Upon police arrival, it was ascertained that a 29-year-old Pembroke man was shot dead.”

He declined to comment on whether police had chased suspects to the Middle Road area and been fired upon, and he also would not comment on whether the incident was gang related, stressing that the situation remains under very early investigation.

The spokesman added that while there are many who are concerned about the incident, the police will give a full update this afternoon.

According to residents, many of whom were visibly distraught by the events in a normally quiet and close neighbourhood, the victim appears to have fled into the yard of a residence, where he was shot. They reported hearing between four and six shots, followed by several motorbikes leaving the area.

A woman who lived near the scene said: “It sounded like six shots, a succession of pop, pop, pop, and then all these bikes drove off.” Another resident indicated that a man had been pursued into the yard with a number of assailants shooting after them.

The yard of a house off South Avenue remained the focus of large numbers of forensic officers last night, while several sites of firearms evidence were marked off in the road outside, at a corner just north of Horseshoe Road. Groups of onlookers remained hours later, as news of the shooting spread quickly by phone and social media.

In addition, police had blocked off Middle Road near to Heron Bay. A heavy police presence remained in the area well into the night, with officers questioning motorists.

Anyone living in the area of the shooting who may have noticed persons behaving suspiciously is asked to call police at 295-0011, or use the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 800-8477.