Gunshot victim refuses to help Police, they consider charging him
By Elizabeth Roberts
The man shot on Glebe Road on Saturday is refusing to assist the Police leaving them so frustrated they're considering prosecuting him.
Jah-Lario Samuels-Dill, 21, suffered gunshot wounds to his upper torso in what detectives have labelled a gang-related attack.
Asked for an update on the investigation yesterday, head of the Serious Crime Unit Antoine Daniels revealed: "The victim at this time is not really assisting. I know I said in a previous press conference there will be a time when the Bermuda Police Service is going to have to start naming and shaming people. There's a clear indication that the victim knows who his shooters were, but as a result of this gang-on-gang mentality, he's not assisting the Police.
"We've not drawn a blank, we're still investigating it (but) there's going to come a time when we have to consider prosecution of people that we know are involved all parties involved, whether they be victims or the perpetrators."
Superintendent Daniels said the problem has been compounded by a lack of other witnesses to the attack, which happened around 4 p.m. in broad daylight. He explained that the circumstances remain unclear as a result, but the victim was shot at point-blank range after a confrontation on the street. He ran into a nearby house calling for help before a private car arrived and whisked him off to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
Supt. Daniels believes the culprits are members of the "42 crew" gang acting as the result of a grudge against rivals from Parkside.
The gangs are associated with different areas of Pembroke, and according to Supt. Daniels, Glebe Road is "right in between" the two.
Asked if improved witness protection resources might assist with what he admits is a common problem of silence, Supt. Daniels replied: "No. It would not not help. It's the mentality. He's not not telling us because he's frightened."
He admitted it's very frustrating, particularly amid mounting public and political pressure over serious crimes being committed on Bermuda's streets.
"Nobody wants to get involved," he said. "I went to the scene on Saturday. We had grown adults who didn't appreciate the Police being there. I was told 'Daniels, I'm glad you're leaving the area'."
Despite this, the Police have put additional resources in place to protect the area and its residents, which includes high-visibility policing. More than 30 officers have been put onto the shooting investigation.
Two men arrested over the weekend a 29-year-old and a 30-year-old from Pembroke have since been released from custody and are on Police bail. They're due to report back in around six weeks.
Renewing an appeal to anyone who can assist the Police, Supt. Daniels said: "We're looking for the support of the public in these matters. We always say we can't do it alone and all is not what it seems. The Police are going all-out to try to resolve these issues but they're receiving blanks from the people involved."
However, he went on to explain that a new anti-gang unit will be started up within the Serious Crime Unit from Monday onwards, with assistance from the armed Police and Police support units. There will be a Sergeant and three Constables attached to the unit, focusing full-time on confronting the issue. Mr. Daniels said they'll use intelligence to combat those associated with gangs at every opportunity, and he's confident this will lead to success.
"We're trying to tackle the challenges head-on," he explained.
Mr. Samuels-Dill, from Pembroke, required surgery for his injuries but was released from hospital on Sunday. He has not been officially named by the Police as the victim. However his mother, Lee-Ann Samuels Dill, told The Royal Gazette earlier this week that she believed the culprits intended to kill her son. She also said the shooters grew up in the same neighbourhood as him but had been after him for "some time". She could not say why he'd been targeted.
Ms Samuels-Dill did not return calls yesterday. Meanwhile the victim's grandmother, grandfather and aunt declined to respond to Supt. Daniels' comments, and could not assist with contacting Mr. Samuels-Dill.
■ Anyone with information should call the Serious Crime Unit on 295-0011 or the confidential Crime Stoppers Hotline on 1-800-8477.
