The  Owner of a Restaurant on Plantation Hill, West Bay Street, Noel Cartwright was not able to spend Fathers Day with his family on Sunday.  He was killed after being shot by an assailant around  1a.m  on Sunday. He was one of three men murdered in separate incidents.

 Police say Cartwright  was sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot near a local business place when he was approached by a man armed with a firearm, who shot him before escaping on foot. Paramedics were called to the scene and attended to the victim; however, they were unable to revive him. 

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

With the increasing number of homicides in the country, Police have beefed-up patrols in many areas of  New Providence with officers on foot patrol armed with automatic weapons.

In Bain Town, a community leader told the Bahama Journal,  “I don’t know if this is necessary. The residents are afraid now, given the number of officers and the heavy weapons they are carrying.”

The spate of murders caused the Minister of National Security to call a News Conference yesterday, obviously in response to the problem.

This is the second successive  weekend that three persons were killed in separate incidents.  The week before, police were just as busy calling Morticians to remove bodies from  scenes where blood flowed after shootings.

In addition, two men were  shot to death hours apart in separate incidents. 

The police now seeking the public’s assistance in finding the criminals responsible for the deaths.

Superintendent of Police, Shanta Knowles on the scene of the first incident that occurred on Faith Avenue South and St. Vincent Road said that the police were called to the scene shortly after 9pm on Saturday.

“Police officers responded to this location, Faith Avenue and St. Vincent Road after we received information that a male had been injured in a clothing store just upstairs the two story building. 

“Of course officers arrived at the scene and confirmed that information. 

“From our information a lone gunman entered the store a struggle ensued between him and an employee or who appears to be an employee of the store; the gunman shot the employee and then ran from this area,” Supt. Knowles said.

Supt. Knowles said that there was no definitive motive but the police were looking into a possible motive.

“This appears to be an isolated incident here tonight. 

“We are trying to work the motive. We are leaning in a direction but we are not going to reveal that at this time as we are still working the case. Of course you can appreciate that,” Supt. Knowles said.

Further she made an appeal to the public for information they may have.

“We are appealing to members of the public, especially those who were on this property, in this area shortly after 9pm who may have seen something or someone running from this upstairs building or who may be able to identify the person responsible for this incident to please give us a call. It is important that we speak to that person or those persons who may have information that can assist us,” Supt. Knowles said.

With this latest killing happening less than 24 hours after a man was killed on Crooked Island Street, still Supt. Knowles said that there is no need to fear.

“I want to say to members of the public is that please do not be afraid we understand that there is a need to be afraid but do not be afraid. 

“We have officers in all areas of of New Providence who have started an operation just last evening, so we do have officers in the Kemp Road area, the Fox Hill area, Bain Town area and of course we had officers also in this area,” Supt. Knowles said.