The loved ones of a Bahamian woman killed in Turks and Caicos Island were in utter shock when they learn of her sudden and brutal death.
Her sister Cindy Jarrett is heartbroken.
“I am so broken that my beautiful sister’s life was taken; a hardworking, loving, young lady.”
Forty-seven-year-old Aiesha Williams is originally from Grand Bahama but relocated to TCI some time ago, establishing G&A Juicy Juicy Burgers, a food business with her husband Jevanio Williams who was also tragically killed last year.
Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force reported that her lifeless body was discovered in the Blue Hills area on Tuesday, and they were still investigating the circumstances.
TCI local news Magnetic Media reported that she was shot multiple times when an intruder entered the sliding door of her residence.
Her niece Tracey said in a social media post, “My heart is broken Auntie. We lost your husband last year and you survived the shooting. Now this? I’m so confused.”
Tracey is referring to an incident on August 23 when the couple’s truck was fired upon by gunmen, injuring them. Jervanio died two days later in hospital.
Friend Lathoia Douglas now remembers them as “an awesome power couple.”
Relatives told the Tribune they were preparing to travel to the island to find out more about what happened to Williams.
Her death is classified as TCI’s 42nd murder for the year.
An alleged criminal wanted in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos was killed in the British Territory in a police-involved shooting on Tuesday morning, after being sought for weeks.
Brandon Rahming, a 33-year old was wanted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force for drugs and firearms and the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force for murder, and was plastered on ‘Wanted’ posters earlier in the month for the criminal acts.
He was labeled a ‘gang leader’ and TCI police offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who knew of his whereabouts.
Rahming was described as 5 feet, 7 inches of slim build, and was believed to have originally lived in Freeport, Grand Bahama, but his last known address was The Bight Providenciales in Turks and Caicos.
TCI Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said Rahming and others suspected of carrying firearms, were in the Dock Yard area and were “challenged by police officers” who were conducting an operation in the area.
Rahming was shot reportedly by a Bahamian police officer, one of 28 officers deployed to the island nation. He died on the scene.
Scenes from the deadly police shooting in TCI. (Photo credit: TCI Police)
In 2019, Rahming is shown in a picture, dressed in a chef uniform and appeared to work for a resort in TCI. He posted to social media, alluding to a past life of difficulty. “Thank you for my freedom and his guidance and mercy. Through them, I was given a second chance. Only a few know the depths and pain.”
“But hey, we [are] still here, so yes he has more in store,” he said.
It is not known how long Rahming lived in TCI, but police said he frequented the Dock Yard and Kew Town in the British territory, which have become rife with crime.
In October, in a joint effort with TCI police, officers from the Bahamas were deployed to the British territory to assist with controlling crime and murder which spiraled to worrying levels.
It is speculated that criminals are traversing the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, to commit crimes in the neighboring countries.
Botting said an independent review will take place in a few days “from a force within the region.”
Featured Image: The Bahamian man killed by police and TCI’s Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting
The police force in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are looking for one man who is wanted in each country for murder, drugs and firearm offences.
Brandon Rahming, a 33-year old is wanted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force for drugs and firearms and his last known address is listed as Turks and Caicos.
But he is also wanted in the British Territory of Turks and Caicos for murder, drugs and firearm. The RTCIPF believes that his last known address is a local area, The Bight Providenciales and Freeport, Grand Bahama in the Bahamas.
Rahming is known to frequent the Dock Yard and Kew Town in Turks and Caicos, which have become synonymous with crime.
As the crime wave heightens there, on Tuesday morning, a family was the latest victim of murder in the Dock Yard. A man and woman were found in a car, shot to death. The youngest victim, a 3-year-old boy later died from the gunshots and a 7-year-old girl was wounded during the attack.
Last week Saturday, another man was shot in the crime hotspot area.
Why it matters
Officers from the Bahamas went to Turks and Caicos to help fight crime in the British territory. It was speculated that criminals may be traversing between the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, though authorities have not presented that information to the public.
But on Saturday, Turks and Caicos Commissioner Trevor Botting met with Bahamas Commissioner Clayton Fernander to discuss deepening the relationship between the two countries.
Rahming is described as 5 feet, 7 inches of slim build. If you see him, you are asked to call Crimestoppers at 242-328-8477.
Despite a force bolstered with officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Turks and Caicos continue to grapple with crime, including a triple murder in which a 3-year-old boy was killed.
The British territory reached out to the Bahamas for assistance when 15 killings in five weeks rocked the British Territory. But has much improved since the arrival of 24 Bahamian police officers?
The latest murders occurred early Tuesday morning when a man, woman and child were discovered in a car in the Dock Yard area. The fourth victim, a 7-year-old girl who survived the attack, was found bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound. She is receiving medical care for her injuries.
The 7-year-old girl was injured from gunshots after her family was killed on Tuesday. Photo credit: Magnetic Media
Turks and Caicos Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said his team and officers from the Bahamas and UK are investigating the “vicious, barbaric act” committed by the “heartless” criminals.
“They do not care about life,” he said.
On Monday, a man was found dead in the area of Parker’s Yard, Blue Hills, killed by gunfire.
And Sunday, a woman was shot while driving her vehicle in Millenium Heights, Blue Hills. Another vehicle stopped her and shot into her car. She was treated for a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
Last week Saturday, another man was shot in the Dock Yard area. He survived the gun attack and was treated for the injuries.
And last Wednesday, one man died on the scene where he and another man were found bleeding profusely suffering from gunshot wounds in the vicinity of James Stubbs, Leeward Highway. The surviving victim sustained injuries to the left side of his body.
Turks and Caicos Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting met with Bahamas Commissioner Clayton Fernander
In October when a US tourist was killed while in a vehicle returning from an excursion, Botting summed it up that the killings were connected to an ongoing gang feud.
As the British territory’s murder rate spirals out of control, Botting met with Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander on Saturday in the Bahamas, to further deepen relations with the RBPF, he said.
Turks and Caicos’ murder count now stands at 32 for the year.
Gang war in Turks and Caicos is overwhelming its police force and Premier Charles Misick is calling on the Bahamas government to help his country fight the scourge of crime and violence in its once peaceful British territory.
Misick in an address said that he asked Prime Minister Philip Davis and the Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander to augment the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force as violent crime spirals out of control, and authorities are making plans to do so.
TCI faces a tremendous increase in crime since April. Its latest crime wave involved the killing of a US tourist on Sunday, who along with a local was shot “indiscriminately” when armed criminals shot into a vehicle carrying local staff and tourists to their resort after an excursion.
The local also died while the other tourist sustained injuries. When officers responded, they came under fire and an officer was shot during the ordeal. But officers managed to shoot one of the suspects who was found dead sometime later.
The officer remains in serious condition.
Bullets from the suspects’ guns struck the windshield of the police vehicle and deflated the tires.
TCI Police Chief Trevor Botting who later took to social media to instill calm on the island of more than 38,000 people, said the incident “was targeted and carried out by armed gang members who act without conscience, who have no regard for life and who are hell-bent on causing indiscriminate harm and misery across the TCI.
“This violence is linked to drug supply and is fueled by revenge, turf wars and retribution,” he said.
CSJ Report understands the Bahamas is preparing to send 23 officers for approximately one month to bring stability to TCI and arrest the “now emboldened gang trying to remove who they believe are the local drug and arms smuggling competition.”
Governor Nigel Dankin said the ball of confusion on the island began when police shot dead a Jamaican gang leader while resisting arrest, several months ago. Later, the leader of a Haitian gang was killed by a member of his gang.
Governor Nigel Dankin
“The vacuum and confusion this created, allowed a predominantly Jamaican gang, with a relatively small footprint here, to reinforce from Jamaica. They had already been seeking to kill one of their local rivals…following his attempt to steal from them,” Dankin said.
It’s been reported that the local gangs are fighting back and using military-grade high-velocity weaponry.
Misick also requested help from Jamaica and Barbados for police reinforcement as the United Kingdom send a Chief Superintendent and Inspector to form an anti-gun unit. Twenty-three officers to form the unit will arrive in the coming months.
Misick is also petitioning the US Department of Homeland Security to police the passage between TCI and Haiti to prevent illegal entry.
A US Police patrol vessel and Defence Force Marines boarded the vessel to investigate.
The men said they were stranded at sea for 8 days after experiencing engine problems.
They are reported to be in fair health and were escorted to Matthew Town, to a medical facility to receive medical attention before being handed over to Immigration officials for further processing.
Fishermen brought ashore for medical assistance after 8 days at sea. Photo credit: RBDF
Featured image: RBDF
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Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force reported that her lifeless body was discovered in the Blue Hills area on Tuesday, and they were still investigating the circumstances.
