Log In

Reset Password

Plea of murder victim’s mother: ‘This madness has got to stop’

Murder victim: Stefan Burgess

A heartbroken mother whose only surviving son was shot dead on Sunday night has called for an end to the Island’s gun violence and killings.Two men have been arrested in connection with the double-shooting on Glebe Road, Pembroke, which claimed the life of Stefan Burgess, 24, and left a 25-year-old man wounded.Police yesterday confirmed Mr Burgess had been shot several times. The killing is being treated as premeditated murder, however police stopped short of calling it gang-related.Andrea Burgess, the mother of Mr Burgess, said: “The arrests made so far doesn’t really do anything for me. It doesn’t help me at all. It won’t be my only surviving son back. I am not convinced it will lead to real charges.“It all just hurts so bad, it’s a pain that’s undescribable. But I’ve been through this before and I believe God will bring me through again. I have every faith in that, even though it doesn’t feel like it right now.”The shooting occurred just before 9pm at an address near Yardie’s Kitchen in the area commonly referred to as 42nd Street on Glebe Road. Area residents reported hearing as many as six or seven shots. Mr Burgess was taken to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other victim, who was shot in the leg, remains in stable condition.Sources told The Royal Gazette two gunmen rode up on a motorcycle, both wearing dark coloured clothing and crash helmets with full face dark visors, and fired numerous times as people fled, ducking bullets and screaming.Police confirmed yesterday they are treating the incident as a case of premeditated murder. A 25-year-old man and a 39-year-old man have been arrested in connection with the incident. No weapon has been recovered.Ms Burgess lost another son, Stefan’s twin brother Ryan, in August 2006 when he was 18. He was found dead at a road crash site in Orange Valley, in Devonshire.When asked how it feels to lose a second son, Ms Burgess talked about Ryan, who investigators concluded had died as a result of a road traffic accident. She said: “I don’t care what they concluded. I’m still convinced it was murder. It’s got to stop I’ve lost more than one son, it just has to stop.”The murder of Mr Burgess on Sunday has left her reeling in pain.“Stefan was my heart. I just saw him on the street two hours before I knew he was dead. He got his GED, he was making progress in life. He was studying to become a navigation pilot, he just passed the first course of those studies at the end of last year. His baby girl, who is just four years old, is the only grandchild I have,” she said.When asked how the child’s mother is doing, Ms Burgess said: “She’s holding up. But me, I can’t remember the last time I’ve eaten. I’m going to try now but I really don’t feel like it. I have no appetite. I just feel numb.“I remember the scene at the hospital, and I just didn’t want to go in that room. I’ve been there before, I couldn’t do it again. The last thing he said to me was ‘Thank you and I love you’, he told me that every single day. I’m just numb. This madness has got to stop.”When asked how her granddaughter was doing, she said: “That child knows something’s going on. She may not understand it completely but she knows something drastic has happened and she’s not understanding why her daddy is gone.“My only child left is Ebony and that young woman is strong. Right now I have funeral arrangements to plan, it’s too much right now, but I’m holding up.“It doesn’t matter what the police do, I’ll never look in my son’s eyes again and I won’t ever hear him say ‘I love you’ or ‘Thank you’ again.”According to police there are clear indications that the Bermuda public is fed up with ‘tit for tat murders’.Assistant Commissioner David Mirfield and Detective Inspector Peter Charlemagne confirmed to The Royal Gazette the two arrests made were the direct result of information received yesterday morning. Mr Mirfield said it was clear the house where the shootings occurred on Glebe Road was targeted.Joey Trott, a close family friend, described Ms Burgess as a soldier, and yesterday morning said: “I don’t know how much more she can take. Right now she’s not doing too good, but there’s a lot of support around her today, and she’s putting up a good front.“All of us were there at the hospital right after it happened. They have this special room where they take you, Andrea knew when she saw where they were leading her right away. That’s when she literally lost it, she’s been here before. The doctors had to heavily sedate her. Today she’s overwhelmed with well wishes.“ We’re really just in shock even now, it’s just one emotion after another. I’m just trying to think rational. Nobody knows until it hits home.“Stefan has a young daughter who is only four years old. I think she understands more than what people give her credit for.”Ms Burgess has only one surviving child, her daughter Ebony, who is also the oldest. Mr Trott said: “Ebony is a rock, she is definitely a special child.”National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief described the murder as senseless and tragic.“Another family is mourning today and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they come to grips with this tragic, sudden loss. I am confident that the police will investigate this matter thoroughly and work around the clock to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.“The people of Bermuda have demonstrated their support for strong action by the police. And for my part, I shall continue to make clear the Government’s support for enforcement action that disrupts the rhythm of gang activity and makes the gang lifestyle an untenable choice for young people in this community.”Assistant Commissioner Mr Mirfield noted this was the first gun murder in Bermuda in eight months, and overall firearms offences have generally reduced. But he added: “We know how things can spiral very quickly. There has been a marked increase in gun violence over the past month and once again there is a tit for tat element to it. As a result of that we have put more officers, both armed and unarmed, on the streets.“While I cannot say with certainty that this was a gang related shooting, the likelihood is that gang affiliations could have played a part. We are not treating this as a random attack and believe that the address and/or occupants were targeted. We remain open minded on the potential motive.”Asked about unconfirmed reports that her son may have been involved in an altercation with a known gang member in recent weeks, and that the shooting my have been an act of retaliation, his mother Ms Burgess said: “I heard about that and I’m not convinced it had anything to do with this.”Det Insp Charlemagne confirmed that area residents and the Bermuda public at large have broken the wall of silence on violent gun crime. He said the enquiry team is anxious to speak with anyone who was in the Glebe Road, St Monica’s Road, and North Shore Road areas of Pembroke between 8.30pm and 9.15pm on Sunday.Anyone with information is urged to contact the Serious Crime Unit direct at 247-1079 or the main number at 295-0011, in addition to the confidential Crimestoppers hotline at 800-8477(TIPS).

Police yesterday remained at the scene of a double shooting scene on Glebe Road, in Pembroke, which claimed the life of Stefan Burgess, 24, and left a 25-year-old man wounded.