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‘He left his mark’: Friends mourn beloved tattoo artist killed in Grand Bahama car crash

Friends across Grand Bahama are grieving the sudden loss of 35-year-old Rakeem Dames, known to many as “Ricky Rabbs” — a tattoo artist remembered not just for his craft, but for the life and energy he poured into others.

Dames, owner of Island Ink Tattoos Bahamas, died in a tragic car accident on Queen’s Highway on Friday. But beyond the details of the crash, those who knew him say his story is one of talent and impact.

To some, he was the artist who gave them their very first tattoo. To others, he was a friend who stayed in touch, and a personality you could not forget.

“He was exceptionally talented,” said his former teacher, Pauline Barker. “A left-handed artist with a vivid imagination and huge enthusiasm that inspired other students.”

She remembered him long before the tattoos, as a young man in her workshop, full of promise.

Years later, she watched that promise turn into a business and a name.

“He stayed in touch,” she said. “He leaves behind many friends and younger art students who looked up to his talents.”

For many, the news still does not feel real.

Nicole Strachan said Dames had just invited her out for a drink, a plan that will now never happen. “Omg,” she wrote, capturing the shock so many are still trying to process.

Others spoke about who he was beneath the surface.

“He was outspoken
 smart and very intelligent,” Dichelle Bassett shared. “He wanted to make things right with him and God
 he came from far.”

“I can’t believe my boy gone,” Steven Moore wrote. “It doesn’t feel real.”

For his close friend James Field, there is some comfort in their final conversation. “I’m truly glad we had the chance to talk at the end
 someone who made a big impact in my life.”

He left a mark on people.

‘A very decent person’: Friends mourns man killed in car crash

Friends are remembering Geronimo Brice as a kind-hearted man whose life touched many, after he died in a tragic car crash on Wednesday.

To those who knew him, Brice will be remembered for his kindness, a man described simply as “a very decent person.”

Police said Brice was travelling north on Milo Butler Highway when his vehicle struck the median, sending the car airborne into the southbound lane, where it collided with a flatbed truck. He died at the scene.

In the hours after news of the crash spread, social media was filled with messages of disbelief and grief from friends still struggling to process the loss.

For some, Brice was family.

Miguel Johnson described him as one of his closest friends.

“One of my closest high school friends and brothers,” Johnson wrote. “Love you forever my brother.”

The two attended Aquinas College (Bahamas) together, graduating in 1996, and remained close over the years. Johnson said Brice was part of a small group of school friends who stayed connected long after graduation.

“One of my literal best friends in life who I always talk to in a group chat with a few of my closest brethren from school,” he said. “My mind feels lost right now knowing you are gone.”

Others remembered Brice for his easygoing nature and warmth.

“He was a really cool person,” one friend wrote.

“Geronimo will be missed. I so can’t believe this,” added Jasmin Shanez.

Family members also expressed their heartbreak. “Forever in my heart,” wrote relative Jade Thurston.

For some, the news was almost too difficult to accept.

“Not Geronimo Brice,” one person wrote in disbelief. Another simply responded, “Oh goodness, nooo.”

Brice was also remembered by former classmates from his time at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, where one friend recalled long nights in dorm rooms playing video games and building friendships.

“Solid brother back then,” the post read.

Professionally, Brice worked with the Ministry of Works, where his work as an architectural professional left a lasting impression.

Shantell Braynen said he helped design the plans for her home. “He was so cool and lenient with me,” she recalled. “He tried to give me everything I wanted in my house.”

“I coming to church”: Teen’s final words leave loved ones mourning after stabbing

Grief settled over parts of Grand Bahama after the tragic death of G’Tero Foster, a 17-year-old student remembered by family and friends as a respectful young man with a bright future.

Leroy Bowe said he had only seen Foster days before the attack and remembered him as a polite young man.

“He was well-mannered,” Bowe said, still shaken by the news. “No parent wants to wake up to a nightmare like this.”

Foster died early Sunday morning after he and two other teenagers were attacked around 3 a.m. near a business establishment along Queen’s Highway. According to accounts, a group exited a vehicle and confronted the young men. Foster was stabbed multiple times and later died in the hospital.

In the hours that followed, tributes poured in across social media.

Abagail Higgs said the loss has left many struggling to make sense of the violence.

“He was a good child with plenty of potential,” she said.

One barber said he had just cut Foster’s hair on Saturday and was still in disbelief after hearing what happened hours later.

“He was just here,” the barber said. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

Foster was a student at St. George’s High School, where he was remembered as a “beloved fellow Jaguar.”

Among the most heartbreaking reminders of the loss was a screenshot shared online of the final conversation between Foster and his mother, Latara Knowles.

“Why you ain’t home yet?” she asked him. “Don’t let me have to come for you.”

He replied: “Mommy, I ask you if I could’ve gone out.”

She responded, reminding him that he still had church in the morning.

“I never answer you. And you don’t like get up for church.”

“I coming to church,” he told her.

But he never made it.

For many who knew him, the pain of the moment is difficult to put into words.

“Tero, Tero. Oh my Lord. This hurts,” wrote Anishka Rolle.

Kim McKinney said the loss will stay with her. “I will forever miss and love you.”

Others spoke about the cruel reality that a life so young could end so suddenly.

“He was just a child who just started to live life,” Agnes Pratt said. “Now his life has been cut short by cowards with knives.”

Higgs said the family and community now hope for justice.

“Mama, what you cook?”: The tender memories left behind by Officer Johnathan Johnson

The sanctuary filled slowly, then all at once with uniforms, family and friends of Johnathan Johnson.

Laughter and tears mingled as loved ones remembered the life of the police constable killed last month in a crash along East Bay Street.

He loved being an officer.

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To Pastor Monique Davis of Judea Family Worship Center, he was “Johnny,” a young man who loved God and showed it quietly.

“I knew he loved his God,” she said. “He used to work the late shift, get off at 8 o’clock, and by 11 o’clock he was still in the house of the Lord.”

No photo description available.

After every Sunday service, he had a ritual. Stuttering slightly, smiling widely, he would follow her and ask, “Mama, what you cook?” The church erupted in laughter at the memory.

He loved to give. Last Christmas, he bought her a pair of shoes, the heel too high, and insisted she walk in them so he could see how they fit.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Rodger Thompson described him as diligent, respectful and unwavering in his loyalty to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. After a transfer from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, he served in Prosecutions and the Western Division with dedication.

“He was called to serve,” Thompson said. “Humble, well-mannered and kind.”

But it was his best friend, Tyrik Ingraham, who captured the ache of the loss.

Friends since high school, they were inseparable, fishing for hours, arguing over who caught more, communicating without words. “We were the only two that could make jokes,” he said softly and tearfully, “but not to be joked on.”

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“I lost a brother,” Ingraham said. “I lost someone I trusted with life-changing decisions. I lost someone who could pull me out of my darkest moments.”

Elder Justin Rahming remembered training alongside him as a prison officer, how he once slept through the training sessions and still passed the exam. Later, when Rahming met him at a police roadblock, Johnny’s simple request was, “Pastor, pray for me.”

Featured images and photos: Through the Eyes of Ezra

‘A darling of a gem’: Family and friends mourn Kirk Young

What began as an ordinary workday ended in heartbreak for the family and friends of Kirk Young.

Those who knew Kirk describe him as cool, down-to-earth, and dependable.

A skilled mechanic by trade, he was known for his work ethic and willingness to help.

The 49-year-old husband and father of three was killed on Thursday when a forklift collapsed on him at Ports International in the area of the Airport Industrial Park. His 21-year-old son was working alongside him.

Just days earlier, he had spent Super Bowl Sunday surrounded by family, laughing, enjoying the game.

“It’s a bit unbelievable,” his sister, Jody Young, told the Tribune. “I still can’t fathom this is happening because he was perfectly fine
 For this to happen is horrible.”

Friend, Tito White called him “a cool brother.”

Minique Alexandrea knew him well. She said he was “such a down-to-earth person who was always willing to help,” adding that her heart aches for his wife, who family members say is understandably distraught.

“A very focused young man
 decent and loved by his family,” Imran Raheim remembered about him.

Raynet Forbes described him simply as “a darling of a gem.”

“Great guy,” said Marc Serfontein. And for Shavonne, the loss cut deeply: “Kirk, you’re one of the happiest people I know, bro. This cut deep.”

Even those who only knew him in passing say he left a lasting impression.

Glen Rigo recalled that Kirk had just purchased hydraulic parts days earlier. “No way
 No man knows the day nor the hour,” he said, echoing the disbelief felt.

He walked home the way he always did — but this time, he never made it

On Sunday night, Dominic Brown did something he had done many times before. After trying unsuccessfully to find a ride, he decided to walk home.

“He did it all the time,” his cousin Alicetine Johnson said quietly. “We had just spent the day together with my daughter and the cousins. I had just spoken to him.”

But this walk would be his last.

The 48-year-old father was struck by a vehicle on Robinson Road. Instead of stopping, the driver sped away, leaving Dominic lying injured in the middle of the road. A passerby, moved by what they saw, stopped to help. He picked up Dominic’s phone and dialed the last number he had called to alert his family.

“I thanked the person that did that. God bless them,” Johnson said. “A vehicle hit him and chose to drive away. They didn’t stop to help him or call 911.”

Dominic died in the hospital Monday night from severe spinal injuries and brain hemorrhaging. Doctors had warned the family to expect the worst.

To those who knew him, Dominic was gentle and grounded.

“He was very humble. He had a great personality,” Johnson said. “He was kind, mannerly, and loved by everyone who knew him, especially his family.”

A handyman who worked in construction alongside his brother and formerly at The Punch, Dominic was known for his quiet humor and his devotion to family. He was especially close to his mother before her passing three years ago.

“He was a mother’s boy. They were very, very close.”

Now, his siblings are grappling with the weight of losing him so suddenly. One of his daughters, who is off-island, has yet to fully process the horrific news that her father was killed in a hit-and-run.

“This broke me,” Johnson said. “He didn’t deserve to die like that.”

Through anger and grief, she issued a plea to the driver who fled the scene, “Have a conscience and turn yourself in. Our family needs answers.”

‘We talked about life’: Family mourns Jarad Miller, 33, killed in Wulff Road crash

After 33-year-old Jarad Miller’s life was cut short, his uncle reflected on the deep conversation they had, talking about life, responsibility, purpose, and the direction he was trying to take.

It was the kind of conversation Ricardo Miller holds onto after the unthinkable happened on Thursday night.

Jarad was killed in a tragic multi-vehicle collision on Wulff Road near Kemp Road. Police say he was riding his motorcycle when it was struck head-on by a vehicle overtaking another car. The impact left him with severe head and leg injuries. He was rushed to the hospital but died later that night.

For his uncle, the loss feels sudden and deeply personal.

“We always checked in on each other,” Miller said, reflecting on the bond they shared. “We talked about real issues.”

That conversation, for Miller, now carries a weight he could not have anticipated.

News of Jarad’s death rippled quickly on social media, leaving friends, family, and even strangers shaken.

Cindy White said she did not initially realize the victim was Jarad. When she found out, the grief hit hard.

“I felt like he was family,” she said. “He was minding his own business on the road, and someone who couldn’t wait decided to overtake. That decision took his life. It’s very sad.”

Within his family, the pain is raw.

“My heart aches,” Miller said. “My oldest sister lost her son. His life was taken far too soon.”

Friends remembered Jarad as “a good guy.” Deangello Knowles recalled the many days they spent together. His aunt, Synovia Harding, described the loss as “a blow to the family.”

Pastor Samuel Cornish, who knew Jarad closely, said he was like a son.

“He just sent me a flyer,” Cornish shared. “He was proud. He had started his own car wash.”

Others remembered him simply as they first knew him, growing up, finding his way, trying to build something meaningful.

“My nephew gone too soon,” said Leonardo Deleveaux.

‘She lived an abundant life’: Family reflects on Chanell Adderley’s faith as she was laid to rest

Family and friends wept openly on Saturday as they gathered to say their final goodbyes to Chanell Adderley, a young woman remembered for the joy and warmth she carried.

Tears flowed freely as one close friend struggled to speak, describing Chanell as someone who made others feel seen and valued.

“Chanell had a special way of making me feel important,” he said through sobs. “She listened without judgment. She was someone I could count on — someone who brought peace and joy into my life.”

At the Bahamas Christian Fellowship, where her life was celebrated, Pastor Paul Butler reflected on Chanell’s devotion to her faith and her willingness to serve. He recalled her involvement in ministry through song and dance, noting that her joy was rooted in her relationship with God.

“The joy in my heart comes from knowing this young lady served the Lord,” Pastor Butler said. Referencing John 12:24, he told mourners that Chanell’s life was “sown” with purpose, adding that she experienced what he described as an abundant life.

Chanell, just 19 years old, died three weeks ago in a car accident along Prince Charles Drive, when the vehicle she was travelling in collided with a pole. Her sudden passing sent shockwaves through her family, church community, and peers.

Despite her young age, those who knew her spoke of a life rich with achievement and promise. Pastor Butler described her as intelligent, driven, and full of potential.

“She lived a life well lived,” he said. “She earned scholarships, began her studies in the United States, and later returned home to continue her education at the University of The Bahamas.”

Comforting her grieving parents, Pastor Butler urged them not to dwell on unanswered questions or moments of regret, but to hold tightly to memories filled with laughter and love.

“Destiny was at play,” he said.

Featured bottom photo: Shanell Percentie

‘Always had a smile: Loved ones remember Jamaal Ferguson after sudden loss

Shock hangs heavy as family and friends struggle to come to terms with the sudden death of Jamaal Ferguson, a man many remember for his kindness and for his smile.

“Nice young man. Always had a smile for you,” Yvonne Rolle said, still trying to process the news.

Ferguson, 42, was found at his home on Wednesday with stab wounds to his upper body after friends, unable to reach him, requested a police wellness check. The discovery sent waves of disbelief through those who knew him.

“No, bro. I just talked to you,” Deangelo Francis wrote in shock. “I can’t believe this. No way, bro.”

Others replayed their most recent encounters with him. Daniel Demeritte said he had just seen Jamaal over the weekend at a washhouse. “Wow,” he wrote. “Sleep in peace, bro.”

His cousin, identified online as Ajay Mobb, shared her grief plainly: “Y’all take my cousin from me. Lord, my cousin is really gone.”

Tributes poured in across social media, painting the picture of someone who lived loudly and showed up.

“I have never met someone so eclectic, positive, kind, and generous like you,” one friend wrote. “The way you loved life and everyone around you was contagious.

“Those who had the privilege to befriend you can attest to how kind and loyal you were.”

Friends say Jamaal lived authentically, embracing joy wherever he found it. “He had the biggest smile anyone could ask for,” Danielle McKay remembered.

Ferguson was also known in the sports community as a dedicated volleyball player who proudly represented the Bahamas. “You represented your country with pride,” Tia Johnson wrote. “A great loss to the volleyball community.”

Many also knew him from TikTok, where he posted sleek photos and upbeat reminders to friends: “Look good, smell good. Let’s go out.”

Others remembered his words of encouragement and laughter. Former colleagues from Baha Mar’s casino described him as a “beautiful soul” and a beloved host.

One technician shared that Ferguson had an appointment scheduled for Thursday, but it wasn’t meant to be. “Who coming to our therapy session tomorrow?” she wrote.

‘We continue to be so cruel to each other’: Family, friends remember Felix Morley

The family of 60-year-old Felix Morley is struggling to come to terms with his sudden and violent death, following an incident on East Bay Street late Saturday night.

“We ga miss you
You were a good friend to us,” Devonyah Rolle wrote. “Like you always said, it’s about trust and friendship.”

News of Morley’s killing spread quickly, sending shockwaves on social media among those who knew him—on social media, friends and relatives flooded timelines with simple tributes, many writing “RIP,” while others shared brief memories.

Former Speaker of the House Halson Moultrie reflected on knowing Morley from earlier years, describing him as “highly spirited” and “a wonderful soul.”

According to police, Morley was beaten about the upper body and died at the scene. A suspect has since been arrested, but for those grieving, the arrest does little to ease the pain.

“We continue to be so cruel to each other,” Tony Smith wrote, expressing a sentiment shared by many who see Morley’s death as part of a wider pattern of violence affecting the country.

For some, the loss feels especially raw because their final moments with Morley were recent.

Eclipses Stubbs said he had seen him just days before his death and recalled a quiet, ordinary moment that now carries only memories.

“I was able to sit and have a cold soda with him,” Stubbs shared.

“Rest easy, Uncle Felix. We love and miss you,” the tributes continued.