victim

An inspiring detail emerged after a young man was stabbed to death on Thatch Palm, Pinewood Gardens on Wednesday after 8 pm.

A good Samaritan stopped to comfort the dying man, Eric Pyfrom, and prayed for him before he took his final breath.

Marie Moxey said she did not know the 28-year-old victim but “felt great” to be able to help ease his discomfits before he passed away.

“To God be the glory,” she said.

Pyfrom was stabbed while at a home in the area. He was transported to the hospital for medical help but died a while later.

Authorities have detained a 20-year-old man from Cambridge Lane, Nassau Street and a 40-year-old woman from Thatch Palm, Pinewood Gardens for questioning in the country’s latest murder case.

Moxey said during the course of comforting Pyfrom, the woman in question ran out of the house and toward the victim to assist.

Pyfrom’s sister Sheriel Johnson confirmed that he was married to the woman who is in police custody and described a rocky relationship between the couple, adding that he moved back into the home he shared with her just three days before his death.

Johnson remembers her brother, a construction worker, for his quiet demeanor and selfless acts of kindness toward her.

Authorities have not revealed a motive for the stabbing death.

The man found dead in a suspected suicide has not been officially identified but he was recognized among friends and social media users as Traevonn.

He was found at Miller’s Creek Close, Carmichael and was discovered on Tuesday afternoon. Police have not given his age but he appears to be in his 20s.

Two days before his death, Traevonn took to social media, posting what seems a trail of depressing posts, demonstrating his feelings of sadness.

On Sunday he posted, “Another problem with having a good heart is that people think you’re stupid.”

He later posted, “…at the end of the day, nobody knows how hard you work/hustle…how lonely you feel sometimes, or how much sleep you lose, or your daily pressures.”

On Saturday, his post appeared to further show a degree of helplessness and isolation. “All you need is one real supporter in your life.”

He then posted, “Depression isn’t always, ‘I’m going to kill myself.’ Sometimes it’s, ‘I’ve been in bed all day and I haven’t showered, I skipped work to sleep, What’s the point of finishing? I’m not hungry or I can’t stop eating.’”

Then he says, “Never expect to get what you give. Not everyone has a heart like you.”

In a moment of gratitude, he expressed, “I survived a lot privately this year. For that, God, I’m grateful.”

It appears the thoughts of suicide haunted Traevonn before his demise on Tuesday when his friend, Jacqueline Davilmar who expressed sorrow and disbelief at his death said, “No man Trae. You gave up like that. I thought the suicidal thoughts were gone…”

Another friend said, “…wish I had it (resources) when you were asking for help. You were on the right course, started your business and everything… It’s bugging how little situations get to our minds sometimes…”

Experts say many young people use social media to express suicidal feelings and they commit the act after sharing their thoughts on social platforms. But they might be reluctant to express their feelings with close family members or a physician.

Patron Rolle took note of Traevonn’s gloomy posts, questioning the little help he received. “How haven’t you as his friend, his homie, noticed? Yall failed him.”

She warned other users to check on the welfare of family members who use their social media walls to express their feelings, “From I see a post like this on a friend’s wall, I’m jumping in the direct message quickly.”

Oral Neely encouraged others to “learn to see people in need of love and give love.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out to a trusted family member, or friend, or call a doctor for help.

You can also contact the Community Counselling and Assessment Centre at (242) 323-3293/5.

One of the country’s latest murder victims in a 24-hour blood bath is a man convicted and acquitted in the killing of Queen’s College Elementary teacher Joyelle McIntosh.

Twenty-eight-year-old Armando Sargeant was killed at the intersection of Beatrice Avenue and Charles W Saunders Highway early Tuesday morning and was seen lying in the middle of the street.

Police said he was one of three men involved in an argument at a traffic light on the highway. One of the men shot at Sargeant and a man, who fled.  Sargeant was struck by the gunfire, succumbed to his injuries, and was later discovered in the middle of the street.

Who was Armando Sargeant?

Sargeant was one of three, accused of killing teacher McIntosh in 2015, as she and her son drove through Parkgate Road.

Near midnight on that fateful day, McIntosh tried to avoid hitting a person seen lying in the middle of the street.  Shortly afterward, she was shot in the neck and crashed her vehicle.  Her 13-year-old son escaped and ran for help as he was being shot at.

Sargent, Johnny Mackey, and a juvenile at the time of the murder, were charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and attempted armed robbery.

The juvenile was charged with actually shooting the teacher and he and Mackey were later convicted of all of the offenses, while Sargent was convicted of manslaughter, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and attempted armed robbery.

The men filed for an extension of time to appeal their applications and the Court of Appeal approved Sargent and Mackey’s applications for an extension of time, quashed their convictions, and did not order a retrial.

The Appeal Court approved the juvenile’s application for an extension of time, quashed his convictions and sentences, and ordered a retrial.

That meant Sargeant and Mackey were free men.

State of Play

Sargeant’s murder increased the country’s murder count to sixty-nine for the year.

Bahamians took to social media to express outrage over the country’s latest murder involving a service member of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Joevonte Miller, in his 20’s, was killed on Thursday night around 9 pm after arriving home on Pineyard Road. Police say three assailants shot and kill the young officer as he attempted to open the front door of his home.

Miller ran and succumbed to his injuries on the verge of the street.

Since then, Bahamians have expressed anger as gun violence continues to soar, and the country’s young men suffer the most in these targeted attacks.

Thomas Porter demanded, “New day government, please do something.”

Da La Paige Carey called for punishment by electric chairs. “If the government does not want to put hanging back on the book, buy a few electric chairs because it’s ridiculous.”

Marolyn Wells joined the chorus, advocating for the return of hanging, “What a sin. When will all these murders end? It seems as though the government is not concerned. Bring back hanging” she said.

Others like Melba Collins Morley asked for the government to seek the assistance of “extra trained police officers from other countries to sweep the island from all sides to take care of these murders.”

Some believe the government’s stance on crime is too soft, calling for stricter measures implemented by Cuba, which has become known for its hardened approach to crime.

“We have to have an approach on violent crime as they do in Cuba. We have to stop taking it lightly. It is serious. It takes away people’s freedom. It messes up families forever,” Diane Delisle said.

Bengena Lafleur said she heard the barrage of 18 to 20 bullets being fired, but immediately thought it to be fireworks.

Press Liaison Superintendent Audley Peters said the details are still unknown, adding that “At some point, we would know the cause of this incident.

“We are following significant leads. This investigation seems to be promising. All the details must come together and we have to get the information from other stakeholders to know what happened, who is responsible, what is the cause of this incident and bring it to some closure so that we can get the adjudication process started.”

As crime continues to torment the Bahamian society, a viral video circulated on social media, showing a man pleading for his life while gunmen ambush him.

The man appeared to have arrived home, when two men dressed in black and grey hoodies and armed with guns, attack him as he falls to the ground on the outside of a residence.

“Please don’t shoot me.  Please. My girl (girlfriend) is right in there (house).

“Don’t shoot me. Take the phone. See no money there,” the victim pleads.

The gunmen vigorously search his pocket and eventually leave with something, which is not visible on camera.

The incident is alleged to have occurred on Tuesday night in the Fox Hill area.

The big picture

Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle last week, lamented the increase of crime in the country, revealing that murders spiked to sixty-three percent, compared to 2021.

Two weeks ago, another attack by gunmen was caught on surveillance camera, showing a victim fleeing in a vehicle. The gunmen were armed with assault weapons as they chased the vehicle. The victim escaped, unharmed.

Police are investigating an early morning shooting that left a woman dead and a man in critical condition after gunmen attacked them at an intersection.

Police said it was after 9 o’clock on Saturday morning, the woman and man, occupants of a black Toyota Passo, stopped at the intersection of Victoria Blvd, Meadows Avenue.

Gunmen in the area, believed to be in a grey jeep, shot at them, and drove away.

The woman succumbed after transport to the hospital while the man is said to be in critical condition.

Police are still investigating the matter.

Photo credit: EWN