National Security Minister, Michael Weeks, has condemned the latest killing in Bermuda even as the police said that a month long weapons amnesty had resulted in about 40 mostly bladed articles being handed in to surrender bins and police stations around the island.
‘I want to start by saying this plainly. Another family in Bermuda is grieving today because of gun violence, and there is no way to dress that up. My heart is with the loved ones of the person who lost their life in Pembroke,’ Weeks said, adding that the killing of the unidentified man came ‘days before Christmas, a time when families should be together in peace.
‘Instead, another household has been shattered. We cannot keep accepting this as normal. I fully support the Bermuda Police Service as they investigate this incident. I am urging anyone who saw something, heard something, or has home camera footage to come forward. Silence protects violence. Information saves lives,’ Weeks said.
Police said they were called to the Pemborke area over the last weekend after residents reported gunshots being heard in the area.
‘Officers were dispatched to the location and confirmed that shots had been fired into a nearby residence. An unresponsive victim was located at the residence.
‘Officers immediately commenced life-saving measures and Emergency Medical Services was contacted and attended the scene where they continued life saving measures and conveyed the victim to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later,’ the police said.
Meanwhile, the authorities say that the month long amnesty had netted 40 mostly bladed articles being handed in with most being antiques, memorabilia and decorative items for display purposes only.
The collection did include items that have long been prohibited as well as newly prohibited weapons including a zombie knife and butterfly knife.
Under the Criminal Code (Prohibited Weapons) Order 1980, there are 11 items listed as ‘prohibited’ and a further eight were added recently ahead of the amnesty, giving people the opportunity to dispose of them.
‘Some of them are obviously not intended for harm, but you also see weapons with sharpened edges, so they are not just for display. However, all of this stuff is dangerous.
‘We had the rifles come into the police stations, as dropping a firearm of any kind into the bins is not safe,’ said Assistant Commissioner of Police Martin Weekes.
‘We had the rifles come into the police stations, as dropping a firearm of any kind into the bins is not safe. We also had one that appears to be an imitation pistol that was mounted onto a wall plaque.’
The authorities said that the amnesty began on November 18 as a proactive approach to removing ‘dangerous items’ in circulation from the community.