HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Police are investigating the causes of death of four people, including two children, whose bodies were found in an apartment building on Sunday.
The police said that while updates will be provided as the investigation proceeds, they are urging the public to refrain from speculation, particularly after images on social media taken from the neighborhood, a dense residential area near the National Sports Centre in Devonshire, showed people distressed amid a heavy police presence.
Premier David Burt said the incident was an “unimaginable tragedy.
“The grief and pain for this family is heart-wrenching, and as a community, we must support them with love and all necessary assistance. With an active investigation underway, we must also focus on helping the police with their investigation.
“This is a somber day, and I hope our island community will rally to support this family at a tough time.”
National Security Minister Michael Weeks said that the Friswells Hill community is a tight-knit one, and I know firsthand that everyone is affected by today’s events.
“The ministry is co-ordinating counseling and other support services, and I encourage anyone who needs this help to contact Bishop Leroy Bean. Additionally, I reiterate and support the call from the police for any assistance that might inform the ongoing investigation.”
The names and ages of those found dead in the apartment were not released, and Acting Commissioner of Police Na’imah Astwood told a news conference that upon arrival, officers found four persons, two adults and two minors, unresponsive inside the premises.
“An on-call doctor attended, and their deaths were pronounced at the scene shortly after that,” she said, adding that while there had been “widespread speculation” about the incident, the investigation was still in its early days.
However, she said there was no indication that there was any direct connection between the deaths and the fatal shooting of Diante Trimm in the same complex last month.
“At this time, the BPS (Bermuda Police Service) is treating the murder of Diante Trimm as separate and distinct from the tragedy that occurred.
“We are actively working to gather more information, and a thorough investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of these four individuals. We urge the public to remain calm and cooperative while conducting our investigation.
“As a mother of two young daughters, my heart is shattered. To the family of the deceased, our thoughts are with you during this challenging time, and we stand ready to provide any assistance.
“Further updates on this matter will be provided as additional information becomes available. In the meantime, we ask for the public’s understanding and support as we uncover the truth behind this tragic incident,” the Acting Police Commissioner said.
She said that while the tragedy was the second to rock the South Terrace area recently, the police prioritized the safety and well-being of residents and were committed to ensuring the security of the community.
Superintendent Sherwin Joseph told reporters that while it is still too early in the investigation to go into detail, officers with the Serious Crime Unit are involved.
“We are keeping an open mind into the investigation at this time,” he said, adding it was also too early in the process to provide a timeline as to when the four died.
“We wouldn’t be able to state exactly any timeline, but we are progressing that. We are interviewing witnesses now, which should help us understand exactly what transpired.”
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