of James Caines.

And officers investigating the case are believed to be investigating a suspected connection with the notorious White Wall Crew.

And they fear revenge attacks for the shooting in Middletown Lane, Pembroke.

A Police insider said: "There are obvious signs pointing to drugs and gangs and we will will be looking at that very closely.'' And he added: "We will not tolerate this kind of thing -- we do not want any retaliation from anyone.'' Police are also understood to be swooping on the homes of big players in the shadowy world of drugs in a bid to take the heat out of the incident -- and nail the killer. Mr. Caines, 28, was shot three times at point-blank range through the window of a house in Middletown Lane, Pembroke, around 9 p.m. on Saturday night.

The killing bore the hallmarks of a gangland-style execution.

Mr. Caines -- despite horrific injuries including a bullet in the head -- managed to stagger hundreds of yards to his home in Union Street, Pembroke.

He collapsed in the arms of his mother Sandra Cyrus -- but she told The Royal Gazette her son had named his killer before he died.

She added her son had told her he had been threatened -- but said she did not think he had taken the threats seriously.

One Middletown man with close links to the street said last night the shooting was a result of rival gangs clashing over drugs.

The man -- who asked not to be named -- predicted that the killing could be a flashpoint for further trouble.

PLP MP Stanley Morton -- whose constituency takes in Middletown -- declined to comment on the man's claims.

But he said: "I'm sorry about this situation and sorry for the dead man's parents -- I hope this will be an opportunity for people in this area to make peace, not make war.'' He added he knew Mr. Caines family and would be calling at their home to offer condolences.

Mr. Morton said: "It's a terrible situation -- this kind of thing can escalate. I just hope calm and commonsense will prevail and that the matter is left in the hands of the law. I'm sure it will be taken care of.'' But yesterday the Police team probing the incident were staying tight-lipped over the lines the investigation was taking.

A Police spokesman on Sunday confirmed a man was in custody in connection with an incident in back of town on Saturday.

But yesterday he refused to comment on any other aspect of the investigation.

The killing is the second in less than a week in Bermuda. The naked and bloodstained body of Canadian visitor Becky Middleton, 17, was discovered on quiet Ferry Road, near St. George's, in the early hours of last Wednesday morning.

A Police probe into the Belleville, Ontario, girl's murder -- now in progress for almost a week -- is continuing.