In the early afternoon he died ﾠof his injuries. Keith Carey, 42, was reportedly assaulted by a gunman, shortly after 11am on Monday, while about to enter the Bank of the Bahamas International, Harrold Road branch, to make a deposit.
Inspector Clayton Fernander, officer-in-charge of the armed robbery section of CDU, said that a masked gunman fired several shots at Mr Carey, who was wounded in his midsection. The gunman also took his deposit bag.
Mr Fernander told members of the press at the crime scene that the robber fled the scene in a white Maxima, licence plate number 80654. He also confirmed that the bank was not robbed.
A customer, who wished to remain anonymous, said that she was standing on the inside of the bank at the glass entrance door when she looked outside and saw a man with a gun.
“I heard the shot gone off and I break off running, to the part (of the bank) where the tellers
were. I started screaming `robbery’ and everyone started running behind me,” the customer said.
Another witness reported: “I saw a gentlemen came out of the car who appeared to be going to make a deposit. I heard a shot and he fell. He was just gasping for breathe, but I didn’t see any blood.”
Mr Carey operated the Esso On the Run at Carmichael and Faith Avenue, Keishel’s 99 cents breakfast stand, and the Junkanoo Shack restaurant.
Lambert Rahming, a close friend of Mr Carey, told The Tribune that he was a man with a “big heart.”
“He is more than an entrepeurneur, he is special. Keith is a person with the biggest heart you will ever come across. He will literally take his shirt off his back and give it to a stranger. I can’t see anybody treat him the way that he was treated today (Monday).”
Mr Carey was also instrumental in the athletic training of three of the Bahamas top Olympic athletes. They are Tonique Williams-Darling, and her husband Dennis Darling, and Dominic Demerritte. He was also a former long and triple jumper who represented the Bahamas on numerous Carifta track and field teams.
In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Tonique Williams-Darling said: “He was the sponsor for me before I became Tonique Williams-Darling the gold medalist. He was so kind and so giving. I’m just so ﾠIt’s like God just lost one of his angels on earth. I wish the best to his family. It’s really sad for them today because the way he treated us, we felt like one of his children.” Williams-Darling said it was on January 17 that she got a call from Carey, wishing her “happy birthday.” That was the last day she spoke to him.
In a press release from the Bank of the Bahamas, Managing Director Paul McWeeney described yesterday’s incident as “tragic, senseless and inhu mane.”
“We do have closed circuit TV and we will do everything in our power to assist police identify and bring this perpetrator to justice. We extend our deepest sympathy to the victim’s family and we will do whatever we can to help put an end to this crimewave that is sweeping the, country,” said Mr MeWeeney.
John Carey, MP for Carmichael, also extended condolences to the family of Mr Carey on behalf of his constituency.
Mr Carey is survived by his wife, Michelle, and three daughters, Keishel, Keva and Kera.
By TIFFANY GRANT & BRENT STUBBS Tribune Staff Reporters
