‘Information saves lives’ — Weeks’s plea after gun death
Witnesses to a fatal shooting have been urged to provide information as the Minister of National Security said the community owed it to the country to “stop pretending this is just another headline”.
Michael Weeks, after the death of a man following an incident in Pembroke last night, insisted today that gun violence cannot be accepted as normal.
Police said that a report was received at about 10pm of gunshots heard in the area of Spruce Lane.
Officers attended and it was confirmed that shots had been fired into a nearby home, where an unresponsive victim was found.
Despite life-saving efforts by police and emergency medics, the man was pronounced dead a short time after he was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.
Mr Weeks said this afternoon: “I want to start by saying this plainly — another family in Bermuda is grieving today because of gun violence, and there is no way to dress that up.
“My heart is with the loved ones of the person who lost their life in Pembroke last night.
“This happened days before Christmas, a time when families should be together in peace.
“Instead, another household has been shattered. We cannot keep accepting this as normal.”
He added: “I fully support the Bermuda Police Service as they investigate this incident.
“I am urging anyone who saw something, heard something or has home camera footage to come forward. Silence protects violence. Information saves lives.
“We owe it to the victim. We owe it to their family. And we owe it to this country to stop pretending this is just another headline.”
Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, who is the MP for the area, called on the community to respect the police investigation.
He told The Royal Gazette: “I have been informed of the incident by my colleague, minister Michael Weeks, and I’m waiting for further details of the investigation before I actually make a comment.”
Mr Darrell said that he had been in the area last week to deliver Christmas items to seniors.
He added that he had contacted area residents after the shooting, who he said reacted with “shock, disbelief and, of course, sadness”.
Mr Darrell said: “It puts things into perspective sometimes, that as we go with our lives and we get into the routine of Christmas and cheer, that not everyone is feeling that at this time.”
He added: “It seems like, unfortunately, it’s always this time of year, that as we are preparing for the holiday, someone has to go through a loss of this magnitude.
“It is never an ideal time, but it’s also heightened at this time of year when people are trying to prepare for joyous and celebratory holidays.
“There is someone who’s lost their life. There is a family that is grieving. There’s a family that is trying to get the same answers that we are trying to get in the community.
“What I am not going to do is rush to judgment as to what happened and why it happened and make a statement that I do not otherwise know the details about.”
The Gina Spence Programme, a grief support charity, earlier extended condolences to those affected by the gun murder — the sixth in Bermuda this year.
It said today: “This senseless act of violence has once again shaken our community and left many grappling with grief, trauma and uncertainty.”
Gina Spence, the charity’s founder and an advanced grief recovery specialist, added: “This loss is deeply painful, and it is especially heartbreaking as we approach the Christmas season, a time when families long for peace, safety and togetherness.
“Grief does not take a holiday, and for many this tragedy will permanently change what this season feels like.”
She said: “When a life is taken, the ripple effects are wide and lasting.
“Families, friends, witnesses, first responders and entire communities are affected.
“When grief goes unacknowledged or unsupported, it does not disappear, it often resurfaces in harmful ways. No one should have to carry this kind of pain alone.”
The GSP’s work aims to interrupt cycles of unresolved grief, strengthen individuals and families, and reduce the long-term impact of trauma within the community through clinical services, crisis response, education and advocacy.
Ms Spence said: “At times like this, our responsibility is not only to mourn, but to care.
“Healing begins when people are seen, supported and given space to process their loss.
“When we choose compassion and connection over silence, we help build safer, stronger communities for the future.”
Robert King, the Opposition leader and Shadow Minister of National Security, offered his condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim, whose life was “senselessly snuffed away”.
He added: “It makes no sense and we cannot continue to hope that this gun problem that is plaguing our shores will go away.
“Hopes and prayers are no longer the answer. Bermuda is in crisis.”
Mr King said: “December should be a time for joy and peace, not devastation.
“I call on the Government to work collaboratively with the Opposition to find a viable solution to quell this violence.
“There have been six too many gun deaths this year.”
Martin Weekes, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, said that the shooting appeared to be targeted, but did not say whether the victim was the intended target.
He added that the Serious Crime Unit was continuing inquiries in the neighbourhood and that it was “still too early to provide too much information”.
Mr Weekes said: “We are actively trawling CCTV footage now.
“We have to find the timelines and follow all the vehicles in and out of pictures until we can put a picture together of who might have come from where. That is ongoing.
“It is quite a time-consuming process but it is very good when we get the results.”
Mr Weekes said it was “disappointing” to have this incident happen the day after the close of a weapons amnesty, where people could dispense of dangerous and prohibited items.
Despite this, Mr Weekes said, the amnesty could not be tied to “this spate of gun crime”.
He explained: “It is always disappointing, but the weapons amnesty was specifically around bladed articles and around these prohibited weapons, so we can’t really tie it to this spate of gun crime that we have been having.
“This wasn’t a firearms amnesty. We weren’t expecting that to change the firearms picture.”
Mr Weekes added: “It is always very sad to lose a life in this way, especially at Christmas. That is never easy for people’s families.”
• Additional reporting by Sarah Lagan
Nicole Fox, the chairwoman of the community group Mom Bermuda, told the victim’s family: “Our heart goes out to you during this incredibly tough time. We understand that there are no words that can make this horrible feeling any less painful.
“If there's anything we can do, please don't hesitate to reach out.”
She added: “To lose a loved one on any day of the year is heartbreaking, but to lose them so close to Christmas has a painful level of its own.”
Police have appealed to residents of Bandroom Lane and Spruce Lane who may have noticed any suspicious people or activity in their neighbourhood shortly before or after 10pm yesterday, to call the main police number, 295-0011.
“No matter how insignificant you may think that information to be, please contact us,” a spokesman said.
“You may also call the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers number, 800-8477, or speak with a police officer you know.”
Police particularly want to hear from anyone in the area who may have Ring or other CCTV cameras.
The spokesman said: “We are asking that you check your devices to see whether they may have recorded any images of suspicious individuals or unusual activity as this could assist with the investigation into this matter.”
• For grief support and assistance from the Gina Spence Programme, call 296-0016 or visitgspcharity.com
• On occasion The Royal Gazette may decide to not allow comments on a story that we deem may inflame sensitivities. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers
