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Bahamas
Police Probe Three Murders in 48 hours - "Restaurant
Patron Fatally Shot"
Date Posted: April 30, 2008.
By Darrin Culmer
(Nassau, Bahamas, The Bahama Journal) - An early afternoon
lunch stop ended in tragedy for a New Providence man
Saturday when a gunman turned his weapon on patrons of a
popular Madeira Street eatery during a foiled armed robbery,
police reported over the weekend.
The incident unfolded around 2 pm when the culprit barged
into the Subway restaurant and demanded cash from employees
and customers, Chief Superintendent of Police Glen Miller
reported.
According to Mr. Miller, approximately eight people, five or
six customers and two employees, were in the establishment
at the time when the lone gunman – wearing a scarf,
sunglasses and cap, and armed with what police believe was a
sub-machine gun – approached the counter.
"An off-duty police officer was in the store," Mr. Miller
reported.
"The gunman put the weapon to his head, demanded cash from
him and threatened to kill him."
A struggle ensued between the gunman and police officer and
customers who attempted to disarm the suspect, Chief
Superintendent Miller said, and it was at that point that
the firearm discharged fatally striking the victim.
The culprit fled the store in a westerly direction and
escaped in a white self-drive vehicle believed to be an
American made car, police said.
Although officials had not released the victim’s identity up
to Sunday he was described as being in his early to mid-50s.
Police recovered a firearm from the scene believed to be the
one used by the culprit and also retrieved video images
recorded by the store’s security cameras, Mr. Miller said.
In addition police removed several vehicles, including taxi
number NP 742, from the premises.
Up to Sunday police had not released the name of a suspect,
but the culprit was described as being about five feet eight
or nine inches tall, of dark complexion and slim build.
Police were hopeful, however, they would soon be able to
ascertain the identity of the culprit, Mr. Miller said.
The homicide was the third recorded in the country in less
than 48 hours and the 25th for 2008.
