Chicken exterminator shooting ‘a tragic accident’
Two men were in critical condition yesterday while a teenager was seriously injured and being treated for multiple gunshot wounds after a series of incidents on Wednesday, residents heard.
Darrin Simons, the Commissioner of Police, provided updates on two shootings — one described as likely to have been a tragic accident — and an explosion at a property that all happened in the space of about six hours.
He was joined by Ryan Robinson Perinchief, the Minister of National Security, who also referred to an incident in Hamilton Parish on Sunday, when a 22-year-old man was left with a head wound from a firearm.
Mr Simons said: “Yesterday evening, in particular, three people were badly hurt in three separate incidents in under six hours.”
He explained that at about 5.20pm a motorcyclist was seriously injured near Bakery Lane in Pembroke.
“An approved contractor was culling feral chickens near by with an air rifle,” Mr Simons said.
“A pellet struck the rider and that rider is now in critical condition.
“Early indications suggest that this is a tragic accident and there will be a full investigation to establish the facts so an informed determination is made.
“We reported the word ‘firearm’ in our press release.
“For us, it is a firearm, but in terms of communicating to the public, it is an air rifle — very dangerous, but there’s a distinction between air rifle and what we might traditionally, within the public, refer to as a gun or a rifle or a firearm.”
The critically injured man is aged 42.
Police said earlier that a man was taken into police custody after the incident and that the weapon involved was seized.
Mr Simons said a 31-year-old man injured in an explosion on Westdale Lane in Southampton was “badly burnt” and in critical condition.
“Early reports seem to point to a gas leak,” he added.
“Investigators, including health and safety, are working out the cause and engineers are checking the building.”
At about 10.45pm, police and other first responders were called to a residence in the area of Curving Avenue, Pembroke, where a 17-year-old boy was shot several times inside a home. His condition has been described as serious.
Mr Simons said: “After the incident, officers detained a young male in connection with the shooting.
“The investigation is active, so I don’t have too many more details that I’m able to provide at this particular point in time.”
The teenager was attended to at the scene by emergency medical technicians and taken by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for further treatment.
Mr Simons said there was nothing to suggest that the three incidents that happened yesterday were linked.
“But clearly, from a policing perspective, we are concerned that the incident that occurred early on Sunday morning and the incident last night are connected,” he added.
Mr Simons said the Bermuda Police Service had declared “a critical incident — and that means that these matters come first, in every unit.”
The police chief disclosed that officers were searching “various scenes” for evidence after the shootings. He would not be drawn on any specific search areas.
He also said that the police presence would be heightened, with targeted enforcement against those thought to be involved.
“Rest assured there will also be a wide range of policing activity, that you will not see, that targets those criminals that cause the highest harm in our community,” Mr Simons added.
“If you saw a suspicious white motorcycle on Curving Avenue last night, around 11.45pm, or you have camera footage along Curving Avenue and the roads heading east, please call the police on 211 or Crimestoppers on 800-8477, and if you know a cop, tell a cop.”
On the possible link between the Sunday incident in Hamilton Parish and the shooting last night in Pembroke, the commissioner added: “There’s clearly some tension between two groups that we’re concerned about.
“We think the incident over the weekend and the incident last night are connected, and there are two groups that are experiencing significant amounts of tension.
“Certainly examining the opportunities for reprisals and the opportunities to mitigate and prevent that are key on our mind.”
The Minister of National Security has revealed that work is under way to “refine” the Government’s approach to violence reduction.
Speaking of the recent firearms incidents, Ryan Robinson Perinchief said it was not possible to “arrest our way out” of the problem, and called on the community to come together during this time.
He told how the violence reduction team was out in Curving Avenue and the surrounding area this morning to hear from residents.
Mr Perinchief said: “Some of the team, including Pastor [Leroy] Bean, were out late last night and into the early hours of this morning and provided support to the family at the hospital.
“Work is already under way to refine the Government’s approach to violence reduction so we reach our young people earlier and more consistently.
“That work will be built with the community, and I want to recognise the parents, mentors, coaches, pastors and the men and women who are already reaching these young people.”
Details of the restructuring are expected to be shared in the coming weeks.
“The violence reduction team, the ministry and the police can only do so much,” the minister added.
“The police have responsibility to investigate these crimes and bring offenders to justice, but we cannot arrest our way out of this violence.
“The truth is that our community has more power to stop this than any one of us standing up here.”
He asked residents to check on young people to help break the cycle of “hurt, trauma and retaliation”.
“Please do not let this, and incidents like last night, become just another day in Bermuda.”
Mr Robinson Perinchief said: “These shootings are serious, and I understand the fear and hurt they have caused in our community.
“Too many of our young people are being lost or harmed through gun violence, and we can never accept this as normal.
“We’re going to get through this as a community. We need to come together as a community, and I think that the best thing that anyone can do, who is feeling a little bit anxious, is reach out to those you love, reach out to other young people and let’s try and break this cycle.”
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