A young mother died in hospital yesterday after being rushed there following an alleged domestic incident.

Police immediately launched an investigation into the "suspicious death" of Alshante Brangman, 23, after she succumbed to her injuries at 8.29 a.m. Last night a Police spokesman said a 28-year-old Sandys man was in custody "assisting with their inquiries".

The Hamilton MarketPlace cashier leaves behind a three-year-old daughter.

Emergency services responded to a call at 8 a.m. about a woman in need of medical assistance at a Devonshire address and Ms Brangman was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. However, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Soon after witnesses said there was a fight at the hospital which was believed to be connected with Ms Brangman's death.

"I was walking towards the hospital café, when I heard all this shouting behind me," a 25-year-old witness said. "I saw this big group of people. A security guard was pushing a guy towards the exit and a woman was punching him, trying to get over the security guard.

"The guy was saying 'I was just coming to check up on her'.

"But the woman was punching and yelling 'how dare you come here'."

The young woman saw the group leave the hospital and heard more yelling outside. Soon after Police cars and forensic experts were at the hospital.

A KEMH spokeswoman described it as a "minor disturbance" which was responded to swiftly by hospital security and the Police.

A spokesman for Police said the "fracas" was dealt with quickly and said it was believed to be connected to Ms Brangman's death.

He added that a probe into her death was being led by the serious crime unit but would not comment on whether it was a murder inquiry.

"The Bermuda Police Service is conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of Ms. Brangman's death," he said. "Whilst there is a person in custody, the investigation and any subsequent conclusion(s) as to the cause(s) of her death will be predicated on the evidence in the matter.

"An autopsy is due to be conducted and we will be guided by the conclusion(s) of the forensic pathologist."

Meanwhile, Albertha Waite, the Marketplace's director of human resources, paid tribute to "likeable, outgoing" Ms Brangman and said colleagues at the Hamilton supermarket were devastated by her death.

"She's been a part of our family for four years and she was a great cashier. Today, it was really hard. It was very, very difficult because we had to give the staff the news and we had to give them an opportunity to absorb it all.

"We were quite shocked. Under these tragic circumstances, it's very difficult to comprehend right now."

Mrs. Waite said Ms Brangman was a single mother who spoke often about her daughter. "She just went 23 — her birthday was January 5. I actually hired her which makes it even doubly hard. She was so young; she's just gone too soon."

She said Alshante was a popular character whose name was often heard on the store intercom as she would go to chat with colleagues in other departments when she had no customers."She's going to be a big miss," said Mrs. Waite. "She would make 11 o'clock days. Come 11 tomorrow, I don't know what we are going to do. "You look for people and they do that routine day in, day out, week in, week out and then all of a sudden it stops and they are not going to be there. We just have to take one day at a time."

Staff were stunned and emotional when told the news, according to Mrs. Waite, and will be offered grief counselling. "Men and women were crying. It was just hard.

"In each department, as we spoke to them, it was just shock and emotion. It took a few hours for one lady to just sort of come to grips with it."

She said Ms Brangman came from a close-knit family and offered the Marketplace's deepest condolences to relatives.

Tributes were posted on Ms Brangman's Facebook page soon after her death yesterday morning.

Kia-Shay Babie wrote: "Alshante, I love you. You're my big cousin and I love you. I can't believe it.

"I don't wanna believe it. All the memories are coming back. Shonty, you was the one I can come to just for a laugh."

Lisa Maria Smith posted: "Going to miss you. All I can see is when you're up MarketPlace at the cash register with that smile and telling me that you got another tattoo. Love ya, Shunti — 'forever in my heart'."

Lauvita Parson Alshante said: "I miss you already. I'm so hurting right now that you're gone. I love you."