Nassau, Bahamas- The year 2021 was a busy one for homicide investigators. 119 people lost their lives to violence, compared to 74 in 2020.
We take a look at the murders that dominated the headlines in 2021:
Bella Walker
The murder of four-year-old D’onya Bella Walker on November 5 sparked national outrage. The four-year-old was allegedly beaten to death by her mother’s boyfriend, Darion Smith. Prosecutors charged him with murder while her mother, Ostonya Walker, was charged with exposing a child to grievous harm and child cruelty.
Jerome Avenue Massacre
Six men from the Kemp Road area were killed in a mass shooting on April 15.
Four gunmen riddled the car at the interdection of Jerome Avenue and Chesapeake Roads, killing the passengers: Renardo “Crack Teeth” Bastian, Darnarrio Saunders, Maurice Pinder, Kendal Lord, Travis Cooper and Delano “Ginger” Smith.
The woman driver and Smith’s two-year-old daughter were injured.
The men had recently been released from police custody after they were arrested on a gun charge.
To date, police have not charged anyone with the brazen crime.
Police Commissioner Paul Rolle told reporters on December 30 that one of the suspects in the murder had died. He claimed that the other suspects had left town.
Although police have issued wanted posters for suspects in other murders, police have not done so in this case.
Kendise Smith
Kendise Pearl Smith was found bludgeoned to death through a lover’s lane off Marshall Road on January 18. Police charged her friend, Fred Lloyd, with her murder.
Omar Penn
After surviving several attempts on his life, Omar “Punch” Penn was murdered in Freeport, Grand Bahama on February 21. His murder remains unsolved.
Inmate murdered in prison
Inmate Mikhail Miller was found beaten to death in his cell on November 1. He was serving a three-month sentence for stealing a phone and tablet from his mother.
Student killed at school
Student Kenm Paul was killed and another boy injured during a lunchtime stabbing at Government High School on May 18. Police charged two students, ages 15 and 16, with the murder and attempted murder.
Leon Griffin
Businessman Leon Griffin was shot dead outside his home in Winton Meadows on December 23. Griffin, the husband of former PLP Cabinet Minister Melanie Griffin, was a major shareholder in Parklane Jewellers. Biswajit Pati, an accountant at the business, was killed in eerily similar circumstances outside his home on August 12.
Kenron Dean
10-year-old Kenron Dean was shot dead at his home on Finlayson Street on March 11. Kenron’s uncle, Marvin Ferguson, his twin brother and seven-year-old cousin were also injured in the shooting. Police have charged Leon Evans with the murder and attempted murders.
Shavonna “Vonya” Adderley
Two years after her boyfriend down in Coconut Grove, Shavonya Adderley met the same violent end on June 25. She was killed while visiting relatives on First Street. Cleophus Smith is charged with her murder.
PLP campaign worker killed
Kendrick Cambridge, a campaign worker for then PLP candidate Zane Lightbourne, was fatally stabbed on September 14. The incident took place at Lightbourne’s constituency office in Elizabeth Estates. Mr Lightbourne won the Yamacraw constituency in the general election two days later. Kyle Dean has been charged with the murder.
