killing

Young father Leroy Bethel, killed in Eleuthera on early Easter Monday, was one of his uncle’s favorite nephews.

“I never told him I loved him, but he knew,” Sergio Bethel said as he recalled his last moments with his nephew.

“This is so hard for me and my family because I just talked to him, and now he’s gone. Wow, this is heartbreaking,” he continued.

Bethel was a resident of the small community in James Cistern, and he was found dead not far away. He was discovered shot to death around 3 am while sitting in a vehicle. Police said he sustained a fatal gunshot wound to his upper body.

Shocked by his death, resident of the area Sheila Thompson recalled seeing him the day before the unfortunate incident.

“Life is unexpected,” she said. We just saw [him] yesterday chilling and smiling.”

Bethel shared a son with his former girlfriend Vante Scavella. She took to social media to share her disgust at his violent death.

“My baby’s daddy [is] gone. I can’t believe y’all kill Liam’s daddy like that, and to be the one to find him, is even more painful,” she grieved.

Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera Clay Sweeting said he often interacted with Bethel.

“I remember during my first campaign, Leroy walked with me throughout James Cistern and we use to check in on each other periodically since then,” he recalled.

Residents said they are in mourning and fear that the killing has rocked the quiet and safe community they have come to enjoy.

As police search for the killer, Sweeting said, “As a collective community on Eleuthera, we must all have zero tolerance to violence and continue to fight for the safety of our community.”

Following the killing of a four-year-old on Tuesday night, some members of the public are calling for the ultimate punishment for convicts accused of killing children.

Reports are that Kenton Seymour Jr was in a vehicle with his parents on West and Fleming Streets around 10 pm, when gunmen reportedly chased and fired shots at a man, instead shooting into the windshield of a car, killing the young boy who was sitting on his mother’s lap.

The child was rushed to the hospital but died a short time later.

Renewed calls for capital punishment were echoed on social media.

“Our biggest problem is the Privy Council. They never deem anything ‘the worst of the worst’. Our own judicial system here has been failing us,” Taylor Mara said.

Brittonee Newry asked, “How many kids have to die for the nation to get serious? Does the violence have to hit the home of some elites for the ax to come down on the heads of these murderers?”

Alexandra Major lamented, “This is unacceptable. Something must be done about all these killings and guns.”

Senator Maxine Seymour joined in the chorus, responding to a post by Helen Johnson who asked, “How many more innocent children’s lives will be taken by these ruthless thugs? Members of Parliament and Senators, please make changes to the law.”

Seymour said, ” You’re quite right. Anyone who harms a child in any way, not just death, deserves the ultimate punishment.”

Though the death penalty remains on law books, it has not been carried out since January 2000.

The Bahamas’ highest court based in London, The Privy Council, ruled in 2011 that the death penalty law should only apply to murders deemed the “worst of the worst”–a person who kills a police or defence force officer, a member of the Departments of Customs or Immigration, judiciary or prison services would be eligible for a death sentence; a person convicted of murdering someone during a rape, robbery, kidnapping or during an act of terrorism.

Kenton’s murder was one of three shooting incidents yesterday.

Police said they have seen an uptick in homicide cases. 82 murders have been recorded for the year.

Police said they have the intended target in custody and are searching for the suspects in this latest homicide.

A father is grieving the loss of his 13-year-old son killed after a gambling game took a fateful turn in the Kemp Road community on Friday evening.

“Rest in peace, ‘Q’. Daddy loves you,” Quincy McKenzie wrote to social media.

The father shared memories of Quinton. He described the L.W Young student as a sport and video game enthusiast who also loved rap music.

Quinton’s mother, Kissie Brown-Pratt told Eye Witness News that she remained troubled about how the teenager died.

“A small thirteen-year-old boy… to take two shots–one behind his neck and one in his jaw. That’s really hurtful for a mother to stand here.”

Reports are that Quinton is the grandson of Leroy ‘Smokey 007.’

What happened?

Reports are that after a gambling game through Williams Lane,  someone lost money during the game, returning later to shoot into the crowd. Quinton was shot twice on Friday night.

A juvenile was arrested and is being questioned for the murder.

Police are investigating the death of a 10-year-old boy, shot and killed on Thursday night on Finlayson and Bola Avenue, Bain Town.

What Police Say

• It was sometime after 9:00 pm, police were called to a shooting incident that occurred on Finlayson Street and Bola Avenue, Bain Town.
• Units responded and on the arrival of the officers, they were directed to a residence where an adult male and three juvenile males were found suffering from gunshot wounds.
• Emergency Medical Service was called and following their examinations one of the juveniles, the 10-year-old boy was pronounced dead.
• The three other victims were transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition.