The Government pledged all resources to delivering justice after a street shooting that took two men’s lives in Hamilton, with the Opposition calling for more to be done for police.

David Burt, the Premier, said tragedy had “shaken our island once again“ after police named the victims as Nakai Robinson, 18, and Natrae Eversley, 23.

They were fatally shot, and a third man, aged 24, was treated in hospital for gunshot wounds after two suspects on a motorcycle opened fire at a group near the junction of Court and Dundonald Street at about 4.40pm on Tuesday.

Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, pledged “every resource necessary” for police, while Jarion Richardson, the Leader of the Opposition, said “national leadership” was required to deliver results.

Mr Burt offered “deepest condolences” to families facing “unimaginable” loss.

He added: “As a father, I can only begin to comprehend the grief that the parents of the two victims are going through.

“I am also praying for the family of the third victim, who is recovering in the hospital and all of those who may have witnessed yesterday’s shooting or been in the vicinity, as such a callous and terrifying event took place in broad daylight on a busy street as workers and families walked around the City of Hamilton.”

The Premier said anyone with potential information should speak to police or call Crime Stoppers anonymously.

“Silence only allows this cycle of violence to continue, and it must end,” he said.

“Bermuda is a close-knit community. When even one family mourns, we all mourn.”

He added: “We are not defined by these tragedies, but how respond to them as a community, so it's vital that we stand together and be there for one another.”

Mr Burt said the Government would maintain its support of police and first responders, and continue investing resources for those affected by violence, along with programmes aimed at its root causes.

“But lasting change will only come when we, as a community, decide together that enough is enough.”

Mr Weeks branded the “broad daylight shooting” a “shocking and brazen” act to be condemned in “the strongest possible terms”.

He added: “I commend those members of the public who stepped in to help at the scene.”

He said the police investigation would get “every resource necessary” from the Government.

"In the midst our shock and outrage, we, as a community, are not powerless; we can act. The more information that members of the public share with the police, the greater the likelihood of bringing to justice those responsible for these crimes.

"We can meet this tragedy with a strong community response that makes it clear that we condemn these crimes and express our determination to play a part in making that justice a reality.“

Mr Weeks urged the community to speak with police or use the anonymous Crime Stoppers number at 800-8477 “because silence is not the answer”.

Mr Richardson said the island was “in mourning once again”.

“In recent days, lives have been lost to violence — in our streets, in broad daylight, in front of the very communities we are supposed to protect.

“These tragedies do not only claim the lives of their victims. They leave children without parents, parents without children, families without answers, and communities without peace.”

Mr Richardson said grief did not end after headlines faded.

He added: “It lingers — in the empty chairs at the dinner table, in the classrooms where friends notice a desk is vacant, in the hearts of neighbours who now walk their streets in fear.”

He said many of the island’s charities had witnessed the pain “up close”.

“Their work with families affected by traumatic homicide shows the depth of the wound left by violence, and the urgent need for structured grief recovery to help victims’ loved ones cope and heal.”

The One Bermuda Alliance leader said that the violence was indicative of “a wider decline in our civil society — a fraying of the bonds of respect and trust that hold us together”.

“We see it in the hostility that too often replaces healthy debate, in the disrespect shown in public spaces and in the deepening divisions across our community.”

Mr Richardson said the same “erosion of trust” was why “too many people remain silent” in the face of police appeals.

“And yet, the police themselves are struggling. The Bermuda Police Service is still below its target staffing level.

“Internally, officers report low morale, lack of trust and a culture that must change. They are working under strain, with fewer resources than they need and often without the co-operation of the public they serve.

“No strategy can succeed under those conditions.”

He said the Government’s own National Violence Reduction Strategy stated that violence “threatens the very fabric of our island home” and that its causes were known.

“What we lack is national leadership to bring these efforts together, set measurable goals and deliver results that people can see and feel,” he said.

He called for trauma recovery and grief support to be woven into the antiviolence strategy, and said the island needed a concentrated “trust rebuilding between police and communities”.

He said both police cultural reform and the violence strategy needed “transparent, measurable progress reporting” with independent oversight.

Mr Richardson urged for support for “police capacity and culture change”.

“We cannot meet this moment with more reassurances and the same old promises,” he said. “We must meet it with action, urgency and accountability.”