Patrons of Woody's Sports Bar have vowed to help detectives bring the culprits who murdered their friend Frederick Maybury to justice.

Mr. Maybury, a father of two, was shot multiple times outside the popular Sandys venue at 12.35 a.m yesterday. He was rushed to hospital, but later pronounced dead.

He is the sixth person to be shot dead in Bermuda this year.

The 34-year-old was on his way home to check in on his 13-year-old son when he was murdered.

A 44-year-old St. George's man and a 34-year-old Southampton man have been arrested in connection with the killing.

The man heading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Pedro, revealed there were more than ten people at the scene of the crime. He confirmed that witnesses have been coming forward.

When The Royal Gazette visited Woody's yesterday, many were still in shock that Mr. Maybury, a self employed plumber, had been murdered just hours earlier. The dark pool of his blood had been cleaned away from the pavement and broken glass from a car, which had several bullet marks in it, had been swept up.

The patrons described him as a hard working, friendly man, who largely kept to himself and enjoyed jet-skiing.

Such a shock was Mr. Maybury's death that patrons, who all asked not to be named, said they would pass on any information they received to Police.

One woman, who was not at the bar when the shooting took place, said: "These people need to know that no one thought Freddie would die like this. He was hard working and a good father.

"We will let the Police know anything we hear and what we know. They will be arrested. Rest assured, anyone in the Woody's family who knows something will tell them.

"Bermuda really needs to speak up about the violence that is happening. The next time, it might be your family or friends."

Asked about the response from witnesses — since people have proved reluctant to speak to Police in previous gun cases — Det. Chf. Insp. Pedro said: "Certainly we are getting early cooperation from people that were there, and we are not encountering resistance in this inquiry."

He added that they have spoken with more than ten people already.

According to another patron, Mr. Maybury's last thoughts were of his son.

"He was asked to go to Ice Queen for some food, but he said no," she said. "Freddie told them 'I am going home to my son'. He left and was shot in the front (of the venue) while talking with some people. I really think it is a sad thing that someone whose last thought was going home to his son had his life snuffed out.

"He is a father and these people have murdered him, they have snuffed out his life and for what?"

The patrons added that Mr. Maybury's son lost his mother a year ago to cancer and their hearts went out to both his children and his brother David Maybury.

Many in the bar said they believed it was a case of mistaken identity and the victim was not the person meant to be targeted.

One man, who asked not to be identified, said that while he and others dealt drugs Mr. Maybury was not involved in that, or the gang warfare on the Island. He added that while Mr. Maybury was often seen with a nice bike or car, he worked hard for his money.

A relative of the victim who answered the phone at the family's Somerset residence yesterday said the family was too upset to speak publicly about their loss.

At a press conference, Police declined to say if Mr. Maybury was deliberately targeted or comment on any possible motive for the slaying, saying it is too early in the inquiry.

Asked if tensions between Bermuda's warring gangs may be to blame for the murder, Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Wright replied: "We're 15 hours into this (investigation.) We are really not going to start closing down avenues of inquiry. We are keeping an open mind, we are working with witnesses."

One young man who grew up with Mr. Maybury and was at the bar when the shooting took place said he believed it had been well planned.

Others said they did not see a bike or car speed off but did hear a boat. Police confirmed they were following that line of inquiry; Marine Police joined the firearms unit on the scene yesterday morning.

Det. Chf. Insp. Pedro explained: "There's some indications that the offenders may have had access to a boat. It's not been confirmed at this point, but there's some indication that a boat was heard in the area at the time."

He said officers are working on forensic examinations, and perusing CCTV footage from the scene of the slaying, as well as interviewing witnesses who were present.

l Anyone with information about the murder of Mr. Maybury should call the Serious Crime Unit on 299-8106 or the confidential Crimestoppers hot line on 800 8477.