A vacation to The Bahamas turned tragic for a visitor on Saturday when he experienced difficulty while swimming at a beach on Paradise Island and eventually drowned in those waters, according to police.
Police Inspector Walter Evans said the victim, whose next of kin had not yet been notified, was identified only as a 42-year-old male resident of Michigan.
The mishap reportedly occurred shortly before 4 m when the visitor, who was a guest on the Costa Magica cruise ship, went for a swim. Mr. Evans said efforts were made to revive the victim, but they were unsuccessful.
In other crime news, police reported that a 29-year-old man was walking in the Claridge Road area of New Providence shortly after 8pm Saturday when a Nissan Sentra pulled up alongside him.
One of the vehicle’s occupants produced a handgun and fired several shots at the pedestrian, Mr. Evans said.
The victim reportedly sustained gunshot wounds to the abdomen and was taken to hospital where he was listed in serious condition.
Around 7pm Saturday, Inspector Evans reported, two gunmen entered Gibson’s Liquor Store and robbed that establishment of cash and two bottles of coconut rum. Police said three patrons in the store were also robbed of cash and a cellular phone.
Inspector Evans also reported that the Royal Bahamas Police Force has launched certain initiatives in response to the level of criminal activity in the country.
He said two of those initiatives – operations Visibility and Quiet Storm – resulted in police officers apprehending 32 illegal immigrants, issuing 59 citations for traffic violations, and searching 28 pedestrians and vehicles between Friday and Saturday.
According to police, the beefed up law enforcement presence is aimed at reducing the actual occurrence and the fear of crime.
Police indicated that the initiatives will be executed on an ongoing basis.
By: Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
