A young man who shot at Raymond (Yankee) Rawlins in broad daylight on Court Street is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted by a jury. Anthony Swan, 22, is believed to have targeted gangland kingpin Mr. Rawlins as part of the deadly rivalry between the Parkside and 42 gangs.

Speaking after yesterday's verdict, Inspector Calvin Smith of the Serious Crime Unit said: "This is the type of result that the Country needs. It's very significant. It's bigger than this (trial.)"

He suggested the case demonstrates people are determined to bring those responsible for such acts to justice, despite the pressures placed on the Police, witnesses and jurors.

"This speaks volumes," he said.

Swan opened fire outside the victim's family store, C&R discount, at 10.31 a.m on December 16 2009. He appeared to be looking for Mr. Rawlins, going to the shop door and asking "where's he to?" before turning and firing into a parked delivery van where the victim was sitting.

Mr. Rawlins, 47, was not injured in the incident, but a bullet hole was found through the seat of the van.

He was due to be a witness in the Swan case but was shot dead on Court Street in a separate incident a month ago.

During the seven-day trial, the jury heard of Mr. Rawlins' associations with the Frontline, Parkside and Middletown gangs, who've been associated with drug dealing and acts of violence.

Swan, meanwhile, was described by prosecutors as a man who associated with known members of 42 — who are locked in a deadly feud with Parkside.

He was caught on a cell phone video uttering threats to Parkside four days before the incident, and making a gun gesture with his fingers.

He was also captured on CCTV footage being conveyed to the scene of the shooting on the back of a motorbike, opening fire and fleeing on the same vehicle.

Swan wore a black jacket, black sweatpants with a distinctive white stripe down the side, a helmet with a full face visor that concealed his identity, and black gloves.

Police spotted him coming out of St. Monica's Road — the heartland of the 42 gang — just 15 minutes after the incident and arrested him after a 90 kph chase.

A large amount of gunshot residue was later found on the jacket Swan wore during the shooting, along with his DNA. Detectives also discovered photographs of him on the Bermynet social site, posing with what they described as known members of 42.

The jury of ten women and two men found Swan of Cut Road, St George's, guilty of five charges by unanimous verdicts after just over four hours of deliberations yesterday.

The charges included the unlawful discharge of a firearm, for which the sentence is now 12 to 17 years since recent law changes to crack down on gun crime.

Swan was also convicted of shooting at Mr. Rawlins with intent to do grievous bodily harm, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing a gun and ammunition.

He will be sentenced at a later date, after background reports are completed.

Calling out to his weeping family as he was led away to the cells, Swan said: "Tell them I'm going away to college for a little while to better myself."

His supporters shouted back: "Love you baby."

Swan is unmarried and does not have children. His lawyer, Marc Daniels, explained he is determined to pursue a university degree while in prison.

"During the case he's become fascinated by the law and might even consider doing his degree in that," he told The Royal Gazette.

"He's not going to be sitting idly by, he's going to be using his time."

Giving his response to the verdict, Mr. Daniels said Swan's family "is obviously very upset with the decision".

He agreed with Inspector Smith that the case is a significant one.

"I think it's massive in the sense that it's a gun case. Gun crime is on the rise and any defendant coming to court to answer to charges on gun-related crime is going to face an uphill battle, regardless of who the complainant or victim is," he said.

Inspector Smith added: "I wish to give my thanks to the public. The Bermuda Police Service and Serious Crime Unit will continue our fight against serious crime. We are willing to take on whatever comes our way, but with the assistance of members of the public and witnesses."

Mr. Rawlins' family was not present in court for the verdict. According to Court Street community activist Gina Spence, they are still reeling from his death a month ago.

"They are not talking to the press at all because it's all so fresh and soon," she said.

A 31-year-old man is currently facing charges of premeditated murder and using a firearm to commit murder in relation to that shooting.