By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THREE murders occurred within 24 hours in New Providence this weekend, the latest of them a man who was killed after a basketball game at AF Adderley Junior High School yesterday - prompting a call for people who know relatives possess illegal firearms to “do the honourable thing”.

The latest incident happened shortly before 1pm.

Police have not released the man’s identity, however a woman who identified herself as a relative, said he is Randy Williams, 29.

Police press liaison Superintendent Audley Peters told reporters that police were called to AF Adderley Junior High School as the result of the shooting incident which happened in the vicinity of the gymnasium.

Officers responded and were directed to the area just outside the gymnasium where they found a male lying on the ground with wounds consistent with gunshots.

As he was unresponsive the medical team was called in, Mr Peters said. Following their assessment, they concluded that there were no signs of life.

The victim was killed after a basketball game and was leaving the campus, according to the initial investigation.

Mr Peters said: “Our initial investigation indicates that there was a game being played at the school that had concluded and the victim was leaving the campus in a vehicle when he was approached by two gunmen armed with firearms who discharged those weapons in his direction hitting him, fatally wounding him. We are following significant leads at this time.”

 Supt Peters added that the evidence suggested the assailants went to the compound for “a specific purpose”.

Asked if gang activity was involved, he said: “There’s nothing that suggests that at the moment, but we are open to anyone who has information that would point us to that direction and we’re open to any eventualities.”

 Before this murder, there were two other homicides on Saturday within hours of each other.

 Supt Peters told The Tribune that before 11pm police were called to Pigeon Plum Street and Ficus Street in Pinewood Gardens as a result of a shooting incident.

 “There was a couple that had arrived at home. Once they approached home, some persons came out of a bushy area, two individuals that is, and discharged a weapon hitting a male passenger of the vehicle who succumbed to his injuries,” he said.

 The victim was in his mid-20s, Mr Peters said.

 Hours earlier shortly after 1pm, police were called to the scene of a shooting on East Street opposite Coconut Grove Avenue.

“On the officers’ arrival they found an unresponsive adult male on the porch of a residence with multiple gunshot wounds,” police said in a press statement. “The victim was later examined by Emergency Medical Technicians who concluded that there were no signs of life.

“Initial investigations revealed that the victim was sitting on the porch, when a lone gunman approached him and shot him before fleeing the scene on foot. This matter remains under active investigation.”

 While on yesterday’s scene, Supt Peters noted the number of shootings that have occurred and made an appeal to the public who know their relatives are in possession of firearms to do “the honourable thing” and report them.

 “Our officers are on the ground, on the streets. However, we can’t be everywhere, but each citizen is a police officer. We encourage you to do your part so we can make our communities safe.”

 Chief Superintendent Dr Chaswell Hanna, officer-in-charge of the South-Central Grove division, assured members of the public that the police force and the division is focused and “very concerned about the safety of our residents”. He added that they have a “very comprehensive policing plan” in the south central division and there are boots on the ground.

 “On the front end we have a comprehensive prevention programme. One of them is the programme, Second Chance, where we try to get these young kids who are at that at-risk age and try to positively engage them so they can be steered away or diverted away from involving themselves in anti-criminal behaviour.

“And our operations have been successful in many respects. In fact through our operations we have taken a number of weapons off our streets and arrested a number of persons. In fact, this past week, we had two weapons off of the streets.”