By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

POLICE have 22 men in custody after two rival gangs “shot up” a local night club early Tuesday morning, killing one man and seriously injuring seven others.

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said police arrested the men, in two separate raids, hours after the fatal shooting at the Ballers night club on East Bay Street.

“Our initial investigations reveal that the shooting was as a result of a feud between two rival criminal gangs. Police arrested seven males between the ages of 17 and 42 in Nassau East subsequent to the shooting and a short while later an additional 15 persons, ages 17 through 54, were all arrested in the Kemp Road area,” he said.

“Police operations are ongoing to arrest and locate several people for the shooting. These operations will continue well into the night.

“We wish also to question Julian Collie, also known as ‘Heads’ of Nassau East and Stephen ‘Die’ Stubbs of Ridgeland Park West. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact police.”

According to police reports, the incident occurred shortly before 2am on Tuesday at the club located at East Bay and Mackey Streets.

Police say a fight erupted inside the club, resulting in eight people being shot. A 21-year-old man died of his injuries a short time later, three men are in critical condition and five others, including a woman, are in serious, but stable condition.

Mr Greenslade said this shooting and other serious crimes are receiving the full and focused attention of the police.

In keeping with his tough stance on crime, the Commissioner said he has relaunched, in a new format, “Rapid Strike” with a team of officers led by a seasoned officer.

He said the job of this team will be to seek out and arrest prolific offenders who continue to commit crimes.

Mr Greenslade said he is also going to petition to have the licenses of night clubs reviewed with a position that they will close at more “respectable” times.

“I will continue to make the appeal to well meaning citizens of the country not to keep their premises open for that extended period even if they have the license to do so. We are challenged as a people at the moment and we need the average citizen to help us solve these problems,” he said.

“I am also petitioning so that we may revisit all these licenses that have been issued and I stand firmly on the point, no matter how unpopular it may be, we cannot allow business establishments to remain open into the wee hours of the morning, 3am, 4am, 5am, and attract the ilk of nefarious goons that seek to ply their criminal deeds while they are in their beds.”

Mr Greenslade made it clear that he his not “seeking to institute a curfew, ” but rather keep the Bahamas safe.