Gunmen wanted to kill my son, claims mother
By Chris Spencer
Armed men who shot a 21-year-old in broad daylight intended to kill him, his mother claimed yesterday.
According to Lee-Ann Samuels Dill, the shooters were known to her son, Jah-Lario, and had been after him for "some time".
Although she refused to say why her son had been a target, she insisted the men seized a golden opportunity on Saturday when they found him out in the open and alone.
"I can't say what it was all about," she told The Royal Gazette, "but their intention was to kill him. They [the shooters] have been after him for some time."
Mr. Samuels Dill was shot in his upper torso on Saturday while near Yardie Kitchen, a restaurant on The Glebe Road in Pembroke. The shooting took place in broad daylight, at approximately 4 p.m. Police have refused to divulge any further details of the circumstances involved.
The victim ran into a nearby home immediately after, shouting "help me, I've been shot" before collapsing on the floor.
Shortly after, he was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by private car. He was released Sunday evening.
A 29-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, both from Pembroke, were arrested in connection with the shooting and remained in Police custody last night.
"He was discharged [Sunday] night and is doing great," Mrs. Samuels Dill said. "He is resting right now, he is very tired."
The real shame was that the incident involved persons who should have been friends, she added.
"It is terrible, they all grew up together. They lived just steps away, they are all from the same neighbourhood, the same school," she said.
"They saw him alone and took the opportunity. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was his father's angel that saved him."
Steven Mansfield (Pepe) Dill died in 2001 while an inmate at the Prison Farm in Ferry Reach. The 41-year-old had tried in vain for seven hours to summon medical assistance, before dying of complications associated with bronchial asthma. Government had to make a $325,000 compensation payout in 2006 as a result.
Acting Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, Walter Roban commented yesterday: "Sadly, once again, the peace of our neighbourhoods have been disrupted by a senseless act of violence. At this time, I want to urge the public's cooperation in helping Police solve this latest act of gun violence.
"I have been briefed by the Police Commissioner and am confident that the Bermuda Police Service are working tirelessly to ensure that those responsible will be brought before the courts.
"I am hopeful that members of this particular Pembroke community will reach out to the Bermuda Police Service and provide any information related to this latest incident."
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the shooting or anyone with information regarding the shooting to call Acting Chief Inspector Calvin Smith of the Serious Crime Unit on 295-0011 or the confidential Crime Stoppers Hotline on 1-800-8477.
