Murder suspect arrested in West Bay

Scene of the murder of Victor Yates in West Bay 3 January 2015

(CNS): A 22-year-old man from West Bay has been arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the killing of Victor Oliver Yates, who was gunned down in the early morning hours of 3 January outside a local late night bar and restaurant. An RCIPS spokesperson said the man was arrested during a pre-dawn operation Thursday and he is currently at the George Town Police Station.

The bust took place in West Bay, though police did not specify the area of the district where Firearms Officers (USG), Detectives, the K9 Unit and the police helicopter converged to apprehend the suspect.

Officers searched a number of addresses in connection with the arrest for the murder of Yates, who was the first young man to be killed this year. He was gunned down outside Super C’s restaurant in front of as many as twenty people, police told the West Bay community at a meeting Wednesday evening, and Police Commissioner David Baines said his officers knew who the shooter was and they were working towards gathering the necessary evidence required to charge the suspect.

Yates’ murder was followed a few days later by an attempted murder outside Top-a-Pop liquor store in which a 22-year-old West Bay man was shot in the hand. Then on Friday night David Ebanks was shot as gunmen opened fire outside a jerk stand across from the street in Kelly’s Bar on Birch Tree Hill Road. Police believe that the gunmen were targeting a known gang member and Ebanks was an innocent bystander who was in the line of fire after the intended target fled.