shooting of a Bermudian mother's son, it emerged yesterday.

The 19-year-old allegedly pumped two bullets into Jay Willis Holmes, who died later in hospital.

The January 18 killing occurred in the Pepper Mill Drive area of Washington DC, less than a block from Holmes' home in Capitol Heights.

Police claim Badgett is a senior member of Washington crack-selling gang, the 58th Street Mob. And they say he was out on bond and awaiting trial on a weapons charge at the time of the shooting.

Special assistant to the State's Attorney for Prince George's County in Maryland, Ms Paula Burr, said Badgett was scheduled to appear on June 13 at a "status hearing''.

The hearing before Judge G.R. Hovey Johnson at the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Maryland would allow prosecuting and defence attorneys to give a progress report on trial preparations, she explained.

Ms Burr said Badgett also could be required to plead at the hearing.

Badgett, from the 5800 block of Southern Avenue SE, Washington, was indicted in February on a murder charge.

Ms Burr said the trial before Judge Johnson had been set down for August 25.

Twenty-seven-year-old Mr. Holmes, who lived with his mother and sister, was a dental assistant who had graduated from Howard University.

He was the only son of Mrs. Cynthia Bean Holmes, formerly of North Shore, Pembroke, and her late American husband after whom he was named.

Although legally an American citizen, Mr. Holmes had taken steps to finalise his Bermudian naturalisation rights through his mother's status.

A frequent visitor to the Island, he was said to have dreamed of opening a dental practice in Bermuda.

BERMUDIAN BDA