Police Investigate Three Separate Deaths, Multiple shooting injuries

Three men died of gunshot wounds in separate incidents in the past four days, while others are currently nursing injuries.

 The latest act of violence occurred shortly after midnight on May 25 in the Blue Hills community. Police were dispatched to Ralph Close following multiple reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers found a 41-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Early investigations suggest the victim had been sitting outside his home when he was approached by five armed, masked assailants attempting to commit a robbery. The victim fled the scene seeking help and was shot in the process. He was transported to a medical facility and is receiving treatment.

As officers secured the area, they discovered a second male victim lying face down next to a vehicle. The man, identified as Roberto Yacinthe, 33, of Blue Hills, had sustained what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m. by a medical doctor. Investigators believe Yacinthe was confronted and shot by two individuals.

This fatal shooting follows a separate homicide less than 12 hours earlier. Around 2:58 p.m. on May 24, police were alerted to the discovery of a body in the Five Cays area. The victim, identified as Jean Milet Gardiner, also known as “Fanfan,” was found with gunshot wounds. Gardiner, 43, a Haitian national residing in Five Cays, was pronounced dead at 3:16 p.m.

These two killings come on the heels of another fatal shooting that took place earlier in the week. On May 21, four men were shot while inside a vehicle on Walter Cox Drive in Kew Town. According to initial reports, another vehicle pulled up alongside them, and three armed individuals exited and opened fire before fleeing the scene. The injured men were rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for treatment.

One of the victims, Jean Ronel Jean Baptiste, 32, of Kew Town, succumbed to his injuries on May 23 while receiving care. Police have since confirmed his death and extended condolences to his family.

In a separate and unrelated incident in South Caicos, a 71-year-old man was shot in the left thigh on May 21. He was taken to hospital for treatment. A 17-year-old male suspect was taken into custody on May 23 during a police operation. The teen remains in custody as a person of interest and is assisting investigators with inquiries into the shooting.

The Serious Crime Unit of the RTCIPF is actively pursuing leads in all cases and has appealed to the public for assistance. Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest police station, dial 999, call the Serious Crime Unit directly at 231-1842, or reach out anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers P3 mobile app.

Authorities are calling on the community to come together in support of justice, emphasizing that public cooperation is essential in bringing those responsible to account.