By DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

A 39-year-old Joe Farrington Road man became the country’s latest murder victim, dying in the hospital Saturday morning having been shot on Friday because he had no money to give his attacker.

The victim was at Joe Farrington Road shortly before 11.30pm on Friday when he was approached by a man demanding cash.

After telling the culprit he had no money to give him, he was shot.

He was taken to hospital that night by EMS personnel where he was detained in critical condition.

Shortly before 8am on Saturday he died of his injuries.

Police are investigating and appealing to members of the public who might have information regarding the incident to contact them at 919, 322-3333/4; the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991, 502-9910; or Crimestoppers at 328-TIPS.

Last night, police said they were questioning a 23-year-old man, from Joe Farrington Road, about the incident.

Police are also investigating another shooting incident that left an 18-year-old man hospitalised.

The victim was arriving at his residence on Grace Avenue off Marathon Estates around 3.30am on Saturday when he was approached by a group of men wearing dark clothing.

When he tried to flee he was shot. He was taken to hospital by EMS personnel where he is reported to be in stable condition.

An early morning Abaco traffic collision yesterday also claimed the life of a 25-year-old Spring City motor-cyclist.

Shortly before 5am yesterday, officers at the Marsh Harbour Police Station were notified of a traffic accident that occurred on Don McKay Boulevard.

According to reports, a 26-year-old Murphy Town resident was travelling north in his vehicle and the 25-year-old motocyclist was travelling south. There was a collision.

The cyclist was treated by doctors at the scene, but died of his injuries.

Fire destroys home

Also on the Family Islands, a mother and her children escaped with their lives from an early morning Grand Bahama fire that completely destroyed their $60,000 home.

Shortly before 4am on Saturday, police received a call that a home in the Hanna Hill area of Eight Mile Rock was on fire.

Firefighters discovered a single-storey wooden home engulfed in flames. They extinguished the fire, but could not save the home. Although the 32-year-old mother and her children were left homeless, there were no injuries.

ARRESTS FOR CABLE THEFT

Three men are in police custody in New Providence after being found in unlawful possession of a “large quantity” of cable wires in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Western Division police officers were on patrol in western New Providence shortly after 4am when they saw three men inside a black Chevrolet truck acting suspiciously. The wires were discovered in the truck and a 28-year-old man of Savannah Avenue, a 25-year-old man of Montel Heights and a 19-year-old man of Sea Breeze were taken into custody.

Housebreaking arrest

A 52-year old Kemp Road resident has been arrested in connection with a house break-in. Around 6pm yesterday, police received information that a man dressed in blue jeans and a yellow shirt had broken into a home on Pyfrom Road off Mackey Street. Officers apprehended a suspect, along with the stolen property, at Mackey Street north of Whites Close.

Handgun found

Also yesterday, a handgun and ammunition was found by police outside a home on Village Alley off Hospital Lane. Southern Division officers found the items acting on information. No arrests were made.

Phonecard vendor robbed

A phone card vendor was robbed of cash and phone cards at gunpoint on Saturday night. The vendor was reportedly at Prince Charles Drive, east of Commonwealth Boulevard, around 8.30pm when she was approached by a man wearing a hat and shades and armed with a handgun. After robbing the vendor, the culprit fled the area on foot in a southerly direction. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Arrests in shop break-ins

Southeastern Division police officers are questioning two men in connection with a shop break-in. Around 1.40am on Saturday, officers saw two men acting suspiciously. They searched the men and found an assortment of cell phones and digital cameras. A short while later, police received information that a Carmichael Road business was broken into.

A Grand Bahama web-shop was also robbed after its employee was held at gunpoint by three masked men armed with shotguns.

A little after 9pm on Saturday, police were called to investigate an armed robbery report at a Eight Mile Rock web-shop. An employee had closed the store and was leaving when he was approached by armed men who robbed him of cash belonging to the store before escaping. The robbers were reportedly dressed in camouflage clothing with black ski masks and are described as being between 5’6” to 5’8” tall.

Police ask anyone who saw the culprits before, during or after the robbery to call 350-3107/8, 35209774/5, or 911.

Police find handguns

That same day, two handguns were removed from the streets of New Providence in two separate incidents. Mobile Division officers acting on information went to an abandoned building on Apple Street off Wulff Road around 4.30pm where they found a handgun and ammunition. The second weapon was found in bushes at St James Road off Kemp Road by Northeastern Division officers around 7.30pm. No arrests were made.

‘Night Life’ arrests

Nine people were arrested and five drivers cited as a result of Saturday’s police operation “Night Life”.

Starting at 10.30pm, Southwestern Division officers partnered with Rapid Strike officers and the K-9 unit.

The five drivers were cited for various traffic infractions, eight people were arrested on outstanding warrants and one person was arrested for disorderly behaviour. Officers also confiscated a quantity of suspected marijuana.

Another nine people are in police custody after being found in possession of a quantity of suspected marijuana.

Around 12.40am on Saturday, Rapid Strike officers conducted a search of a Pastel Gardens residence where they uncovered the drugs.

Southeastern Division officers also teamed up with other officers from various policing divisions for operation “Sudden Strike”. Between midnight and 7pm on Friday, 15 search warrants were executed and 11 men, arrested.

A 26-year-old man, of Mount Tabor Estates, was arrested on an outstanding warrant while the others were arrested for offences such as possession of dangerous drugs, assault with a deadly weapon and causing harm.

A 25-year-old Grand Bahama man was also arrested on Friday accused of possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Shortly before 8pm, a team of officers were in the Lawrence Close area in Freeport when the man was arrested.