As 77-year-old mugging victim Josie Ray remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit in hospital, National Liberal Party (NLP) vice-chairman Graeme Outerbridge issued a call for community leaders to join together in efforts to eradicate violent crime.

Mrs. Ray was attacked at approximately 5.45 p.m. on February 2 as she retrieved her mail at the Southampton Post Office on Church Road.

As Mrs. Ray was checking the second of her mailboxes, a robber snatched her handbag which hung over her shoulder. Mrs. Ray was pulled to the ground, striking her head and breaking her wrist in the violent attack. The assailant made good his escape with her bag which contained $150 in cash along with several credit cards.

While the bag and credit cards were recovered, the cash was missing.

After being conveyed to hospital, it was discovered that Mrs. Ray was suffering from bleeding and swelling of the brain. Last night, she remained in critical, but stable condition.

Meanwhile, The Royal Gazette has learned that a 15-year-old boy is in custody in connection with the violent attack.

"The victim list of violent crime continues to grow and people's sense of security in Bermuda is gone," Mr. Outerbridge said. "When Mrs. Ray was attacked at Southampton Post Office, the severity of the question is: When is it going to happen to your wife or daughter? Where is this criminal element coming from?"

As he pondered whether the spate of violent crime is the result of "young Bermudians that are written off by a system that just passes them out into Bermudian society uneducated, angry, and destructive", Mr. Outerbridge said it was time for the leaders of the country to step up and help find a solution to a community-wide problem.

"All Bermudian political and community leaders need to come together to map out a plan to solve this serious threat to society," he said.