Shootings are rare in Bermuda with the last confirmed gun incident occurring in October 2004 when a bullet was fired through a glass door of a Summit View Drive, Hamilton parish home although no-one was hurt.

The last gun murder occurred in April 2003 when 20-year-old Bermuda College student Shaundae Jones died after a single shot gun blast to his chest outside a nightclub in Dockyard. His murderer has never been brought to justice.

The killing led to a gun amnesty later that year which netted several hand guns and shotguns.

Earlier in 2003 a 15-year-old schoolboy Nicky Tucker, Jr. was hit in the foot when gunshots were fired outside the home of acquitted murder accused Jahni Everett Bean.

Police said the last gun murder before the killing of Shaundae Jones was the 1996 slaying of James Cyrus Caines. Teiko Furbert and Sheldon Franks were given life sentences for his murder ? even though only one gun was fired.

Mr. Caines, a 28-year-old father of two, was shot three times in the head while standing in a house in Curving Avenue.

Mortally wounded, Mr. Caines managed to stagger a quarter mile to his mother?s home on Union Street, collapsing in her arms.

Last year Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith said Police were considering having armed officers on permanent stand-by to counter the gun threat after several high profile operations at the courts involving armed officers.

Currently the emergency response team is mainly made up of officers pulled in from other units.

Last night acting Premier Randy Horton said the idea of having a dedicated unit was still on the table.

?It?s something we are working on. It has huge implications in terms of Police numbers.?