Kellon Hill was killed in an unprovoked act of violence, having simply been "in the wrong place at the wrong time" when suspected gang members crashed a beach party.

According to a source, it's believed he lost his life trying to stop someone stealing his jewellery in a gangland show of bravado known as "chain snatching". The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr. Hill himself had no gang affiliations, and came from a studious and religious family background.

He graduated from the Bermuda Institute in June and was due to head to the US to study tomorrow.

The violence unfolded when a party hosted by the parents of a 15-year-old girl about to leave for boarding school was crashed by a group of older troublemakers. They are suspected to be gang members, one of whom allegedly tried to steal Mr. Hill's gold necklace.

"What young people do is snatch the chain. It's a show of bravado, it's a badge of honour, it's a show of strength that also belittles the individual who's the subject of that," explained the source. "It looks like it was unprovoked. Who knows why they did it, but accounts are that he may have resisted or stood his ground which resulted in him being set upon. It's clearly someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"There's nothing to suggest this guy had gang affiliations. He comes from a family of high achievers. His family are very religious and put their faith in education. This was just a young man looking to have a good time before he went off to college."

Mr. Hill's family is of the Seventh-day Adventist faith. His aunt, Dr. Lois Tucker, is principal of his former school, the Bermuda Institute. His parents are Daniel Hill — a well known pianist — and Gail Hill. He was the youngest of five children. One of his sisters has just become a doctor, another has been accepted at dental school, and his two brothers have attended law and business school.

Six men were in custody in connection with the killing last night with the source speculating that "this is not a case of sophisticated criminals" but that it may be hard to prove.

While there may be speculation the suspects are affiliated with the "country" gang from the west of the Island, there is nothing to suggest Mr. Hill had links with the rival "town" gang according to the source, who said: "Did they try to jump him because he's 'town?' No. He lived up west for the most part of his life and his family are from the west."