3rd killing shakes community
(CNS): The murder of 32-year-old Anthony ‘Beenie’ Connor last Friday night has shaken an already fearful community as the level of crimes involving guns once again climb to shocking heights. Connor was the third person killed in under a month in Cayman and comes amidst an increase in street and doorstep robberies as well as those at commercial premises involving guns. With the police stretched to the limits, politicians called for the commissioner to take responsibility and for a new form of policing, as they made their contributions to the budget debate following a briefing from the deputy commissioner Monday morning. Meanwhile, Connor’s family called for the violence to stop and for those with information to help the police.
In a statement released to the media, the family said they were heartbroken that the life of Anthony “Beenie” Connor had been taken so suddenly.
"The continued gun violence must stop. All it is doing is hurting family, friends and the entire Caymanian community as a whole. We are known as a loving, peaceable people; therefore we ask everyone to unite and pray for the senseless violence to cease. We urge those who may have information that can help solve this or any other crime not to be afraid to tell the police so that they can help curb the senseless killing of young men," the statement read. "Remember, you can call Crime Stoppers and remain completely anonymous. Thank you to all those who have offered kind words, prayers and support to our family, who is deeply saddened at the loss of a beloved son, brother, cousin, nephew and friend."
The family are no strangers to violence; Connor’s mother survived being shot in the face in 2010 outside a Mary Street bar. That shooting, in broad daylight, came in the wake of another period of gang related violence. Although a man was arrested for the attempted murder, no one has been convicted of the crime.
Although the police have not yet offered any further updates regarding the killing of Connor outside Mango Tree on Friday night, officers are expected to hold a press briefing to answer questions over the latest spike in gang related crime and gun violence tomorrow morning.
The governor and local politicians were briefed by Deputy Commissioner Steve Brougham Monday about the rise in crime and the latest murder before the resumption of the budget debate, which has been dominated by concerns about crime.
After the briefing Governor Helen Kilpatrick stated, “It is important for the premier, mMembers of the LA and me to hear how the RCIPS are responding to the recent outbreak of violent criminal acts and for the acting commissioner to hear MLAs express the concerns of their constituents. I will be discussing with the acting commissioner the approach the police will be taking to prevent any reprisals."
Category: Crime
All these negative posters have nothing better or more constructive to do than to rejoice at the loss of another human being. Perhaps when one of thier loved ones suffer the same fate they would be more sympathetic rather than so opinionated. He who feels it knows it whatever you do in life good, bad or indifferent all our graves will be the same.
Nobody is rejoicing…we are all angry at the failure of parenting and role model guidance that is lacking in each of these products of a one parent is OK society.
Those of u that have all these horrible things to say about him didn’t know him at all… there’s a saying ..never explain yourself because real friends n family dont need it and others won’t believe it.
Well we know the true him. We love him. He loved us back. he never deserved that only god should choose who lives or dies… hell I would love to kill all the people that have really done me wrong but I dont I let go n let god deal with it.
So even if u dont believe anything good about him Have some compassion for those of us that jus lost a brother, a friend, a son, because to us was a good man.
I loved this man he may not have been perfect but he tried ….. none of u are perfect …make he without sin cast the first stone…. he was an intelligent, handsome, loving, man, friend, & family member n for those of u ignorant ppl tlking out him shooting up ppl house … he was I jail ….n even if he was bragging on it it would have still been impossible for him to do! Stop talking about some 1 u know nothing about.
New ID evidence fails to persuade appeal court. Somehow i can't get the link to work, but anyhow if you do a research on this with CNS you will see the case where Carlos Russell, appeared in court stating that he honestly made a ID mistake where the court found Matio Dinnall guilty, it appears that Mr. Connor himself bragged in prision that he was the person who was involved with the shoot up.
I feel ashamed to see all these negative comments on this message board. You all disgust me to my core. Anthony is a man, a Caymanian, a friend, son, cousin, brother to someone. And all you sick people can do is praise his death. My cousin was shot to death in the presence of his toddler and girlfriend. Do you think if you witnesses these things you’d have so much to say? You would be traumatized! I wish Caymanian would grow a heart some compassion and some sense in their heads. I don’t care what life Anthony lived. He came out of prison and was trying to correct his life. None of you know him so please if you have nothing to say that is in respect for his family and friends that are in mourning, please shut your mouths. Because don’t forget you can always be in the position his friends and family are in. I never thought I’d be in this position today. I’ve buried 6 family members and friends to the gun crimes that have plagued this small island. And I have no bad blood for who ever killed them. I just pray that one day soon they’ll stop stealing our loved ones away from us. Once again as a Caymanian you all make me sick whether you all are Caymanians or not.
Start cutting the police nd law enforcement officials that are contributing to the problem. Corrupt Customs and Corrupt Police officers are half the reason why guns and drugs are so rampant and readily available in Cayman. Nip that and you nip the problem.
@14:16 where was he harrassing you? In the Prison visitor's lounge or wha, considering that he's been incarcerated for what I understand the last 8+ years. #justasking
You dont have to feel sorry for him or his family just dont expect anybody to feel sorry for you because as a FEMALE ( I am female too) your rights and feelings inCayman aren't a priority either. #justsaying
I agree with this poster: Tue, 15/10/2013 – 12:25 Furthermore Beenie was my cousin and although we wetren't close and we grew up on "different sides of the track" I know all too well and can relate all too well to the struggles faced by our young Caymanian males.
All the vipers on here spewing posion about legalized abortion etc make me sick some of youmake it seem that babies being born to a certain man or woman dont deserve life, who are any of you to dictate who deserves to live or die before they have even gotten the chance to live. Abortion is a SIN and is in of itself a ligalized form of MURDER and I hope we dont ever go down that path of legalizing it here. Yes womenhave the right to choose but STOP making it seem like abortion is thier only option.
As for Beenie, he had a past and it wasnt spotless but he did try and was trying to change. Thats more than I can say for alot of people whether involved in the "ciminal element" or not. There are countless people in this Island that indulge inharmful behaviours and are never held to account for thier actions, Anthony was held to account and served his time. The man is dead, he's gone and is no danger to anyone any longer whether perceived or otherwise because if he was living he would always be stigmatized even if he became one of the best people this society has ever seen he would never be able to satisfy any of you hypocrites simply because of his past. WE ALL HAVE PASTS. Can any of you be absolutely certain what your loved ones do or have done? NO. We can all only speak for ourselves.
Now the next time your home is robbed, or you hear gunshots, or the business down the street is held up, or your friend his stuck up at gun point, or somebody is shot, stabbed or killed tell me what YOU plan to do about it besides jump on CNS and call up the names of the DEAD in an attempt to finish assacinating their character with NO regard for thier loved ones or even thier children who read these comments. If you dont care about them at least care about those that remain and those they left behind because for all you know you may have the next Earl, Beenie, Robert, etc etc etc living right next door or sitting at you dinner table for that matter. Take care of your own and make sure you know what's up with your own sons and daughters before you condemn somebody else's. If you cant help then dont hinder and if you cant make it better then dont make it worse because I'm sure when the next gun shot pops off all of the Big Mouths on here with so much useless pointless opinions will be the ones under thier beds trembling and hiding behind thier insensitive comments on CNS.
Alledgedly shoot up somebody's house because there was never any proof just a bunch of he said she said.
he boasted in prison about shooting up a certain house , and this is the price he paid , the police know what is going on they are just hiding facts from the short memory public.
Look at the last three murders that have occurred. What did they all have in common? What lifestyle did they employ? Did any of them go to the Police and explain what is occurring in the criminal underworld and what they have done that put them at risk of being murdered? Did their families reach out to the police to let them know what they knew and ask for them to intervene? I am sure nothinggo so; they have no interest in doing so until it all goes wrong and then guess what, they are only going to tell the police half the story with a couple of lies added in to dress it up and then when it gets to court, their lies destroy their credibility. And everyone blames the police. Did the police ask them to be criminals? I'll bet when the police locked them up they and their families had nothing good to say about the police. It's sad and unfortunate that anyone would lose their life. I just hope that their families and all those who know others engaged in a life of crime would solemnly resolve to change and inform the police of what is really going on so that other lives may be spared the pain and suffering.
I remember attending a family appeal for help back in September 2007 after Marlon Brando Ebanks had been shot six times in the head. His killer was never caught. My sympathies to Mr Connor's family but it's going to take a lot more than emotional statements to stop this. If the people who commit murders like this are residents (and there's a lot of people who feel they are hired in killers) then it's quite clear that people who know those responsible are not going to come forward and for RCIPS or Crime Stoppers to tell them otherwise is just dishonest. Maybe Crime Stoppers should tell us how exactly many criminals they have brought to justice and how many rewards have been paid out since they started?
These killers are Caymanians 14:06! Can't you give these useless thugs at least the dignity of saying that killing is something Caymanians can do just as well as oher nationalities? They not lazy when it come to that. They don't need to hire expats to do their killing for them.
Cayjamians should stop breeding when they are empty headed teenagers…all they are doing is seeding the population with future grief.
WHERE IS OUR PASTORS
Our pastors is busy counting the church offerings and tides to see how much money he gets to send home. 90% of the churches on Cayman is all about money they have no clue about our social Fabric and dont cart to. Churches is one of the biggest mafia legally ran organizations in the world. I only have faith in two churches here. Adventis and Church of God Universal.
@11:22 I had a good laugh, thank you. Are you still dropping your hard earned money in those collection plates? its no wonder….. on second thoughts let me just stop there.
Counting the "tides" you say? Interesting job.
I did that once.
Couple of years ago this same man shoot up someone's house, wonder if the Mr. Anthony family went to the gentlemen house and apologize that their family member could have killed his daughter that was in the house. What a bunch of crap, if you live a certain lifestyle it makes no sense to change, as you will always be looking over your back remembering what you did to someone else when you draw blood, If you don't want a bad man retaliation then his parent should have made sure his ass was in school, not going around beating up on somebody kids for their lunch money, oh, yes I remeber him very well. Parents seem to love their kids even more when they are dead, but if you really loved them then you would be checking on them 24/7, make sure that they have the basic needs (lunch money) for school, string their backsides when they slide. Too many parents sit around and have the whole day talking about their problems and their kids. My mother always told me make sure that when you have kids, you have the energy to go with it.
Don't even start with the daddy should have been in his life, I know many single parents who have raised very good kids on their own. Iinstead of chasing the no good daddies and mommies, wasting all that energy you could be using that energy to chase the kids right back in the house, give them extra work to do, make sure you monitor them and please screen their friends. I rather give my sons tough love than easy love, because tough love says it all, life is hard there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, so therefore my boys knows who they are dealing with. Do your kids know who they are dealing with? or do they wimp and cry and your heart softens up and they keep repeating the same mistakes over and over, until it get's out of hand and you have lost them. Each parent has a responsibilty to raise their kids not the government or the politicians they did not ask us to have kids nor do they owe us anything for our kids.
Finally — there is someone out there with an accurate memory!!
I'd just like to add that as a female, Mr. Connor harrassed me anytime we crossed paths (which thankfully wasn't very often) because I wouldn't give him the time of day. He was very aggressive, disrespectful, loud-mouthed and definitely loved to portray to others that he was a full fledged thug.
I do feel sorry for his immediate family and friends, but the fact still remains – you live by the gun, you will damn sure die by it too.
More policing is not the answer, better social programs are what have been lacking in Cayman since 1979. The country developed too fast and left many natives behind without a safety net. This young man is just one of the many that got left behind.
Left behind? By whom?
Sad!! I didn't know this young man but he was human and didn't didn't deserve to be killed in cold blood. Let's hope the Police are doing everything possible to find this heartless person.
From what I am understanding about him, he went to prison for breaking the law and was released not too long ago. He was given a second chance to start over it''s obvious that someone didn't like that, he got right back into what he was doing before or in the wrong place at the wrong time. Dead man can't tell tales or speak in their own defence.
But in my opinion it is very hard to reform some of these young men in Cayman after they spend their time behind bars for some obvious reasons… the home environment they return isn't stable enough to handle such things, pressure from old friends to link up again, no one to turn to for good advice without them be pounced upon about their pass and can't get a job because no one wants to give them a second chance fearing that maybe someone they are connected to challenge them for helping an ex-con out.
Instead of people saying horrible things now about him please pray for his family I am sure many of you who are sending in your heartless comments wouldn't want to be in their shoes.
I thank God everyday that I have been lucky to have good sons and everytime I see some young person I know drifting I challenge them to do better with their lives. That's all they need sometimes is someone to turn to or talk to.
Oh my dear, you felt sorry for him because he was a human being and he was killed in cold blood, but to my understanding you heard that he did some things in his past and he was released not to long ago. Do me a favor if and when a thug shoots at you don't run away and call the police, there is a certain code that these thugs live by, they do not call the police on each other as they will be labeled as an informer and no one wants to buy drugs or guns from an informer that is how he made his money (how do i know this, just like him I am a street rat but i didn't go around hurting anyone i strove to do better with my life by listening to my parents). He rolled his dice and he played into a dangerous game as a young man, who is responsible for that, the blame goes to his parents. We both grew up in prospect, went to the same school, as a school mate I would encourage him to do better in school, but sadly the drug money is faster and better again the blame goes to the parents.
My suggestion to you is if you have no experience in such a trade that trade alone is a death sentence, regardless if he is somebody child. If he dared stole money from a dealer they would axed him wheather or not you took the time to talk to him, he would not have taken your road because he was already to far into the game, believe me to some thugs it's all about the money. You are indeed lucky to have good sons that means you took care of your own. while I may some what do feel for his family this was to be expected as families are not blind to certain activites that their kids do. Sorry, but the only justice that these thug families would get is the queen palace to northward.
First of all, I find it interesting that quite a few people write on here that he wanted to turn his life around. Unfortunately, that is not how it works and reality is different! While he may have had good intentions, one can't just pretend the past doesn't exist and there will be plently people around to remember what has happend in the first instance to land someone in prison. Obviously, once convicted for a crime, one can't move to another country to make a fresh start………
People need to remember that before they make certain choices. It is jut like that picture you posted on Facebook and 5 years later you wish you wouldn't have done it. Once it is there,it is there, no matter how sorry you are later on………
Also, before we beat the "poor family background", and the "bad influences drum" etc. let's remember that there are many, many people throughout the world, growing up and living under horrible circumstances and still they manage to live their lifes without turning to crime. So stop making excuses for our Cayman criminals.
Yes but a alive thug can cause a lot of harm.
I've seen people blame the police, the politicians, parents even the pastors!
How about these thugs take some responsibility for their own actions?
Hard to do that after you been killed. Before that they don care.
No point in trying to blame anyone other than themselves. Free choice to go down the crime route.
When you allow failure to be the standard for our leadership in Government and those that do Immoral criminal or corrupt acts get promoted and rewarded within government what can a society expect to happen to its people and the island on a whole and when our political leaders who we elected make no attempt to intervene or fail act to correct or remedy this injustice what do we honestly expect those amongst us who are crininally inclined to do? but to act without fear of consequences or accountabilty.
We need to start cutting policemen that don’t contribute nothing to the the service! If that means starting from the top, real & serious action need to take place NOW!!!! Concern citizen
here we go again… the police are to blame…a decay in the fabric of society created this mess and now you're expecting the cops to clean it up….the first start is by being responsible when making a decision to have children…(don't do it to be a baby mama)….if you do become a baby mama, then make up your mind to actually raise them…then start to teach them at ages 3 to 9 sharing, social skills, literacy, numeracy, discipline (right from wrong)…and just maybe you won't need the cops at age 14yrs and up to step in…
You are 100% correct, however, it is the police who is to uphold the law every single day and I assume you can agree that they have not done a good job with that considering the resources and budget they have and the relatively small size of community they are dealing with.
Police must get back to a point where they once again can command respect and fear. At the moment, everyone is just laughing because they can't recall the last time they have seen police enforcing the law.
Just this morning alone on my way dropping my kids to school I could have counted probably 15 offenses committed (tinted car windows, children not in car seats, dump truck load not covered, speeding, overtaking where it is not allowed). I travel the same route every day and I have NEVER seend a cop pulling people over. I guess they don't work at 7:00 a.m..
You are writing something that most people with common sense know – the ones who chose a different path seem to be lacking in that dept. So to continously appeal to someone who doesn't seem to be able to think straight is a waste of time – it hasn't gotten us anywhere yet.
Unless the Government provides for legislation that ensures
a) fathers are financially obligated to support their offspring (and I mean proper financial support, not that BS amounts currently dictated under the law), and this includes laws with teeth where salary and/or property can be seized,
b) parents are held responsible (financially or with jail time) for the offenses their children commit (while they under age 18), and
c) parents are held responsible for their children not turning up in school
nothing will change!
love u bennie always the prospect crew
If you really are a member of some Prospect gang, and you've come on here to tell us howmuch you love your friend, where are you the rest of the time to read what fear and misery you're making the rest of us live in? Or are you only part of society when it suits you?
prospect in da house!!!!!…..zzzzzzzzzz …….losers.
You love him so much ya don't know his name! Then ya all got him dead! That love?
Boy how times have changed from a mother rowing with their kids for “being out all aftanoon crushing dem old almonds” to “unna get inside before dem old shootas come cross yah”! Big change for a little island.
He might have been a nice guy but so was Ming, Andrew, Preston, Irvin, Robert, Carlos, Earl on and on…….they were all somebodies special family and friend. But guess what? When you associate in this game called drug pushing? It becomes a death wish for most. I pray for his people and I hope that they will continue to remember all his good. But unfortunately like the rest of these victims, all the bad haunted them…to death. Stay out of gangs….even if your just a “one time” lookout!
The only ones I feel sorry for are the currently still innocent children in this community who have to grow up with the news of burglaries, theft, corruption and murder on daily basis. How sad is it when you grow, becoming imune to those kind of news and think that this is normal!
For certain the community has placed contempt on the life this and other men that have been murdered for the life they choose to lead. It may very well be the case that these men had a hand in the arrival of their destiny, but this is just the after thought of such crimes and the reactions of the community that has been raped of social order. Many problems are slapping us in the face. The foremost is the failed education system. This has produced not a very many scholars. It is not and has not for years functioned. Without a resonably educated populance you are begging for problems/ You are growing problems. These are our people and you have failed. This is our elected Governments charge. People need to demand more from school than just accept that the kids will behave one step up from the missing link. Without a repair in this no matter what effort you put forth in other areas, it will be a grand waste of time and a failure as a whole. Our Police Service………………………..this is just becoming a bar joke. With close to 400 men/woman plus a whole bunch of electronic eyes with CCTV, this is just poor poor poor work product. When you import people at the payscale of a Constable from one of the most uneducated and crime ridden places on earth…….hellp…….what do you think you will get???? Then put people in charge that are using ideas from the 1950's to combat animals that are only missing tails and short of swinging from trees? You get the picture. We need to demand more and do not accept lip service for the 50 million a year Police Service and do not accept lip service and exuses from the CCTV providers and the Government spokesman. Demand measurablr results. Not dead bodies and armed robbries without convictions. We are living in fear. The question is for how much longer.
RIP Anthony James Conner, you were my sweetheart and will always be <3 I will greatly miss your jokes, your smile, your helpful hand, your friendship, your love and YOU all together. I miss you so much.
"With the police stretched to the limits…".
What limit is that? The absolute limit of ineffectiveness?
Let's be real. A quick look at international 'police to population' figures reveals that our ratio is at least double that of most developed countries.
It is simply unacceptable that a police force of 350 or more officers with an annual budget exceeding CI$50,000,000 is performing so badly.
No more excuses. Just do your damn job.
They don't know HOW to do their job, and apparently they don't have anyone to tell them! We need someone with experience in combatting crimes related with drugs and gangs, not someone who asks the public for help and then continues "business as usual". Cayman's new government should look for a person with the experience and moxie to reverse the tide before it's too late.
Get a proper "US SWAT / Gang Squad" down here now, put them on a year long exercise and there would be a markable difference in what goes on. The money being poured into the RCIPS clearly is not being used effectively, so try something else.
Everyone involved in this crap knows exactly who all the RCIPS are, undercover included, so get some fresh faces who are actually trained to deal with what is going on.
Get a proper forensics team who can handle the scene of such crimes.
Do something different, because what the RCIPS are currently up to does not seem to be working, at all.
For the drug dealers who operated in all the bars and clubs they brought in some "hunnies" who were actually undercover DEA, look what happended there…..everyone got caught.
Perhaps try the same but gear it towards the gangs?
Ok, so the rcip is having an employment drive all this month……lets see how many Caymanian people turn up and take the job. If you think you can do better Police Your Island and quit pointing fingers. The police are not here to babysit everyone and cannot be at all places at All times.
I would have applied but I am over the age of 30. Does anyone know the reasoning behind this stipulation regarding age? I could speculate but it would not matter anyway. I am ready, willing and able to be a part of the solution, I am a Caymanian and I love my country and I am willing to put myself in harm's way to do something about the problems in Cayman regarding crime and that goes to the highest eschelons of our society. Ithas to be said that what we see happening on the street is not the root source of the problem, it is an ugly symptomatic result of an overall societal degredation whereby the truly guilty always seem to walk away unscathed. I am willing, but I do not think that those at the top really want to see these issues forthrightly tackled because it would ultimately blow the cover of the truly guilty. With 400 police on the payroll then it is certain that they can and should be all over the place, the situation in the Eastern districts being a prime example. Could this be the result of a reprisal in the underhanded way of politics to any degree, I would say the possibility is certainly there and it is plausible. Gangsterism is not only relegated to the street, it has a stronghold in the highest of places.
Money will not fix this. The RCIPS must get from behind the desks and on to the streets!
and STAY there. There was a noticeable increase in foot patrols a couple of yearsback (I don't want to remember), but they lasted a few weeks and died out. We need high visibility foot patrols all areas.at all times.
The UK is now spending 450 million pounds on the NCA ( National Crime Agency.)
This is their Elite force of 5,000 officers who willl TARGET the most dangerous criminals.
They will have the sweeping powers to hunt down cyber criminals, drug barons paedophiles and GANGS.
We will never rid this Island of the criminals. by using these neighbor hood- watch police, they are not trained to deal with these criminals.
Lets import a private security contractor, on a 6 month basis, they will come in and sweep this country and rid our criminals in a short time.
Our cops are scared to take a bullet, these elite group are'nt they do it everyday.
If the UK is spending 450 . The UK is 10 times larger than Cayman islands . So all we need is 1 tenth of the national crime agency .And put the police on minemum salary and a bonus for every case / ticket they complete .O i forgot they need a gun and training on when , how , and who to shoot .
The UK is much more than 10 times the size of Cayman. Heck, Jamaica is more than 10 times the size of Cayman.
They are not going on the streets. Even if they do it is to catch traffic violators. They are not trained for the job, they are afraid of these gun men.
The RCIPS will not fix this. I'm not sure what will.
6:44, neutering all the young Caymanian men who have never had a proper mother and father and just go about the place seeding up stupid girls is the only way to fix it. So it cannot be fixed. Cayman is finished. All these gangstas are breeding massively and making more gangstas for tomorrow. Soon they will outnumber law abiding people.
This will continue, simply because there are no consequences. It's only a matter of time before an innocent person gets caught in the cross fires of this mess.
Until and unless innocent people become involved in their silly destructive games, I would not want too much police resources spent on them. They died by life choices.
Yes… until an innocent is involved… Like 4 yr old Jeremiah Barnes.
The innocent have already been caught up in this mess directly or indirectly – how soon one forgets and it still hasn't stopped! Any ideas?
Condolence to the family , the governor is wondering what the police plan is to stop reprisals , the only people that can stop this is the gang members , the police are lost on this one it's not as easy as breaking up a late night session or taking tint off car glass.
Crime in high society breeds crime in the lower ebbs; one cannot be without the other. Politicians and corrupt practices, pocket-greasing and entitlement are the causes to the sad state of affairs we now find our beloved country in.
Where are our Pastors?
Do you really think these thugs are about to listen to pastors?
Your Pastors? Oh they're just chillin out in their large airconditioned houses that you paid for with your 10% 😉
A better question is where are their mothers and fathers?