An alleged gang leader was shot and killed in Cable Beach late Thursday. Police said an SUV fled the scene and a heavy response followed, raising fears about escalating violence.
A targeted shooting in Cable Beach late Thursday left an alleged gang leader dead and set off a major police response in one of New Providence’s busiest tourist corridors.
Police said Mario Deveaux, 55, also known as “Mario Fox,” was found unresponsive with multiple gunshot injuries near a Ford Taurus at a gated residence off Coral Road, just off West Bay Street, shortly after 10pm.. Officers discovered him after the attack, and Emergency Medical Services personnel later confirmed he showed no signs of life.
What made the incident especially striking to investigators and nearby businesses was the apparent speed and precision of the assault.. Police reported the entrance gate was reportedly open and not working at the time, and they believe three gunmen discharged more than 40 rounds.. Officers described the car and the body as riddled with bullets, suggesting the shooting was carried out with little attempt to conceal the attackers’ identities.
Police believe Deveaux arrived at the location alone before he was ambushed.. Assistant Commissioner of Police Anton Rahming said unknown persons exited what investigators believe was an SUV and fired at him once he came to the area.. He added that the vehicle later left the scene heading in an easterly direction.
Investigators are now working through details that could point to the shooters’ route.. Preliminary information indicates a dark-coloured SUV was seen speeding away shortly after the shooting, and police suspect those inside may be connected to the attack.. The focus is likely to include tracking the vehicle’s movements, reviewing nearby surveillance where available, and cross-checking witness accounts from the Cable Beach strip.
The shooting unfolded along a stretch lined with well-known businesses, including Sandals Royal Bahamian and Curly’s Restaurant and Bar.. Several locations were forced to close, and traffic in the area was disrupted as dozens of heavily armed officers moved to secure the scene.. Crime scene investigators processed evidence inside a white home within the gated community, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the incident.
Deveaux had previously been identified as an alleged gang leader and was listed among eight men wanted for murder in 2017. Police have not confirmed what drove Thursday’s killing, but investigators said they are examining whether the new death is connected to that earlier case.
There is also concern that Thursday’s ambush may fit into a wider pattern of violence affecting alleged criminal networks.. Deveaux had also been linked to the fatal shooting of another alleged gang leader, Duran Neely—known as “Monster”—last August.. While investigators have not offered a motive, the overlap in alleged roles suggests the matter could relate to an ongoing feud.
Police leadership used the incident to stress the broader context behind many recent killings.. Commissioner Ellison Greenslade said many of the country’s homicides stem from feuds over drugs and relationships, and he warned that prolific offenders cannot remain “free in our communities” while they continue to create fear and potentially commit further serious crimes.. His message also targeted the social networks around suspected offenders, urging family, friends, and associates to report them to police rather than allow violence to spread.
For families affected by murder, the case has reignited concerns about how quickly violence can cycle back.. Khandi Gibson, president of Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), said she has seen “the hunter become the hunted,” describing a recurring pattern in which retaliation pulls more people into danger.. She warned that even when violence appears to “come full circle,” the most lasting impact is felt by those left behind—particularly children and relatives who carry grief long after a funeral.
Beyond the crime scene itself, Thursday’s ambush also raises a practical concern for public information during active investigations.. Gibson urged caution about how details are shared, saying premature identification of suspects can fuel retaliation and put innocent people at risk.. In high-tension cases like this one, the wrong rumor can quickly turn into a threat.
As police continue the search for the SUV and its occupants, the immediate priority remains understanding who ordered the attack and how the shooters were able to carry out such a large-volume assault in a controlled location.. For residents and visitors alike, Cable Beach is a symbol of calm and routine—so when gunfire punctures that environment, it becomes more than a single homicide.. It signals how close fear can come to everyday life, and it puts added pressure on investigators to disrupt the chain before the next ambush attempt takes place.