Shooting Survivor: “I Don’t Know Why They Didn’t Kill Me, But I Thank God!”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In the aftermath of Tuesday’s brazen daylight shooting in the Kemp Road area, two men are dead, and tonight, the lone survivor, a 71-year-old grandfather, is sharing his terrifying experience of cheating death.

The elderly man, who asked to remain anonymous for his safety, recalled how he and several others were caught in the crossfire when masked gunmen opened fire in a yard on St. James Road.

Fifty-two-year-old Demetrius Cooper died on the scene, while 24-year-old Eric Smith later died in hospital.

The survivor, still recovering from his injuries, said he believes his survival was nothing short of miraculous.

“I don’t know why they didn’t kill me,” he said. “Two guns were pointed at my body, bullets flying, and somehow they missed me. I thought the shots went straight through me.”

The grandfather says the shooting claimed the life of his daughter’s boyfriend, a young man he spent time with every day.

“I was bleeding. I told Meech I’d been shot, but he was hit too. I told him to get up, but he just shook his head. Then he stopped moving. That’s when I realized he was gone.”

The emotional toll, he admits, has left him shaken as he reflects on the tragedy.

Meanwhile, following the triple shooting, officers attached to the Urban Renewal Community Policing Unit were on the streets of Kemp Road speaking with residents about their safety.

Chief Superintendent Davie Pratt said the police presence in the area will be increased.

“We just want the community to come together and understand this is their community. We can’t have a handful of thugs wreaking havoc. As of today, you will see more patrols, more officers on foot, and all of the units needed in this area.”