An MP whose constituency includes the site of yesterday’s gun murder said today that residents were “rocked” by the incident.

Dwayne Robinson, the One Bermuda Alliance member for Southampton East Central, offered condolences to the loved ones of Kawaje Raynor, a 26-year-old father of two.

He said that people were particularly moved because the shooting took place “on a Sunday in broad daylight”.

Police revealed earlier that Mr Raynor was shot several times while in the yard of a property at about 3.40pm yesterday in the Riviera Estate area of Southampton.

Mr Robinson said: “This is something that’s been real for a long time. I don’t think it’s just becoming real for the people of Riviera just because it was in their backyard.

“I think the community and Bermuda as a whole has been plagued by this violence for far too long and the actions have become more and more brazen as time’s gone on.”

Mr Robinson said he spent yesterday offering the community access to counselling services and encouraging residents to seek help and co-operate with police.

He described the neighbourhood as “quiet” and “close-knit”.

“We have folks who throw functions now and then that may be somewhat loud,” the MP added. “But usually it’s a very quiet, very unproblematic community.”

Mr Robinson called on residents to unite and to speak out if they had information.

He added: “Violence in our community is a non-partisan issue and we have to come together on it.

“It doesn’t matter what your stripes are or who you are, this affects everyone in the community and because it happened in my backyard doesn’t make it any more or less important, but it does connect us as a people.

“We need to address this systemic violence that we are seeing and it cannot be the Government alone, it must also be the community.”

Mr Robinson later rose as the House of Assembly came to a close tonight to speak on the murder.

He warned MPs that scenes of violence were becoming more brazen, with the attack happening while families were out enjoying the sunny mid-afternoon weather.

Mr Robinson said: “This young man was gunned down in front of friends and family, and it is the fear that I felt of hearing those gunshots and not knowing where my wife was or where my son was because they were outside and rushing out to get them.

“I cannot imagine what it’s like for a family to find out that one of those gunshots had found one of their loved ones.”

He added: “When I saw that young man’s body being put in the back of that ambulance, I thought ‘there’s nothing that can justify that’.

“This was the father of two young boys who went on a drive and now have to return to this horrendous news.”

Mr Robinson called not only for the community to unite against antisocial behaviour, but asked MPs to lead by example and show unity despite being on other side of the political aisle.

Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, said that he was “deeply saddened by the loss of life in this latest act of gun violence”.

He said that his thoughts were with the victim’s family and loved ones.

“This is a serious and sobering incident because it shows that gun violence continues to endanger our community’s safety and we still have much to do as a community to solve this problem,” the minister added.

“When a life is taken in this way, the impact is felt far beyond the scene itself.

“It affects families, it touches neighbourhoods and it affects the wider community’s sense of safety.

“I also want to acknowledge the police officers and other first responders who acted quickly and professionally in the immediate aftermath.

“Their work is not easy and they rely heavily on the public to make any meaningful progress in an investigation.

“If anyone knows anything or saw anything, please come forward. The community has a role to play if we are going to end this violence.”

Robert King, the shadow national security minister, said that it was the responsibility of all island residents to help keep communities safe.

He added: “Bermuda must never accept gun violence as part of island life.”

The MP described the death as “deeply troubling” and “heartbreaking”, and offered condolences to Mr Raynor’s family.

Mr King added: “Gun violence has no place in Bermuda. The loss of life to firearms in a country our size is simply unacceptable.

“This tragedy comes at a time when Bermuda has already recorded four road fatalities in the opening months of 2026.

“Together these incidents highlight the need to keep public safety a national priority.

“Preventing violence requires earlier intervention with young people who may be at risk, stronger partnerships across our communities and firm consequences for those who bring firearms into our neighbourhoods.”

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