A man was killed by police over the weekend, making it the third person killed by police in less than a week.

According to reports, shortly before 10:00pm on Friday, police officers were responding to a report of gunshots being fired in the area of Plantol Street and East Street. As officers approached Irish Spring Court and Plantol Street, the same area where a homicide had taken place a few nights before, they encountered two men on a motor cycle.

One of the men produced a firearm, the officers being in fear for their lives fired at the armed man, resulting in one of the men being fatally shot.

The killing led to a very tense standoff between police and residents in the community who said that the victim was visually impaired and that police officers had no justifiable reason to fire at the deceased.

The Journal spoke with area residents David Whylly and Juan Brooks who gave conflicting reports than the police account of the incident.

“That’s murder plain and simple. Sad truth is nothing is going to come out of it. They need body-cams proper training, screening and accountability just like any other Bahamian citizen”, Mr. Whylly said.

“No matter what’s the situation, the police had no right to fire at the motorists, specifically if they didn’t have any gun or didn’t shot at the police or didn’t use the motor bike as a weapon. The passenger not controlling the motor bike anyway, so why shoot him? That was a bad decision and the officer should be punished,” Mr. Brooks said.
This latest incident comes as police shot and killed two men off Cowpen Road on Tuesday after the men reportedly opened fire on officers.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said the incident, which happened shortly after 2 p.m., took place after the officers saw a suspicious vehicle.
Fernander said the men were in their mid 30s and were known to police.
He declined to offer any more information.
However, The Journal understands that one of the men was recently released from prison on a murder charge and the other was on bail for three attempted murders.
Her majesty’s coroner will continue the investigation into both matters.

The latest incidents have reignited the call for the use of police body cams by the RBPF.

The technology was tested out last year November but has not been officially authorized.