Police have revealed the identity of the country’s latest murder victim.

Twenty-three-year-old Keith Armbrister of Montell Heights was gunned down early Sunday morning.

According to police reports, Armbrister was standing in front of a Bowe Avenue, Montell Heights home around 12:30 a.m. when a several people pulled up in a car and someone opened fire.

He died a short time later at hospital.

Armbrister’s murder marked the country’s 86th for the year.

At this point last year, there were already 104 murders recorded.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact them at 919, 911, Crimestoppers at 328-TIPS or the nearest police station.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has reported that serious crimes are down this year compared to 2011.

Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade has attributed the decline to a number of initiatives put in place in recent months, including increased police patrols and the Christie administration’s Urban Renewal 2.0 programme.

However, the commissioner’s decision to discontinue lumping attempted murder, attempted robbery and stealing from a vehicle from when major crime statistics are revealed, has garnered some criticism from those who accuse the commissioner of withholding information from the public.

But, Mr. Greenslade has defended that decision and said recently that police officials have for many years been careless with some crime statistics, mixing major crimes with minor offences.

“Why would you – on the same sheet, compare murders and armed robberies and add in the stealing of a pack of potato chips,” said the commissioner when he addressed the issue recently.

“The other thing we have to be careful with is this category of murder and adding to it attempted murders. I have indicated to the government and the prior government that those figures, internationally, have been grouped arbitrarily and that has caused this country significant distress. As commissioner of police, I am not going to allow that to happen.”

He said going forward the public should be given all the crime stats without the confusion.

The commissioner, however, implored Bahamians to work along with the police in the ongoing fight to reduce crime.

The commissioner is expected to release the complete crime report later this month.