"Justice should be served," his widow, Paulette Ferguson, told The Bahama Journal hours later. "They need to stop letting murderers out on bail."

Only an hour after being called to the scene of the murder, police said they arrested two males believed to be the culprits behind the brutal slaying.

Police said Huel Ferguson, a security guard at Cocktails and Dreams nightclub on West Bay Street, was standing in front of the establishment when what was described as a big, white vehicle pulled up and several shots were fired.

Police said the Pinewood Gardens resident was struck in the abdomen and rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Mrs. Ferguson said an employee of Cocktails and Dreams informed her of the shooting and when she arrived at the hospital her husband was already dead.

By that time police said officers from the Central Division were already chasing a vehicle matching the given description.

According to police, as the vehicle entered Haynes Oval, Chippingham, two occupants jumped out and fled on foot. He said the vehicle then sped off.

Police said they chased the two men on foot, but were unsuccessful in capturing them immediately.

But that soon changed, according to Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade.

"We have to date arrested several persons and recovered several firearms in connection with that shooting incident," Mr. Greenslade said Thursday morning.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Bruce Arnette, who is in charge of the Central Police Station and Visitor Unit, applauded his officers for their dedication to serve.

"We promised to be faithful to the Bahamian people and ensure that persons who commit offences are caught," Mr. Arnette said.

"We believe that we have got the right persons and the weapons."

Meantime, at Cocktails and Dreams, Mr. Ferguson’s colleagues struggled to cope with what they called a senseless killing.

Charles Johnson, the club’s proprietor, said he was not at the club at the time of the shooting, but his son who was there called him and informed him of the incident.

He said he was told that Mr. Ferguson had closed the gate at the club to let motorists know the parking lot was full.

"This vehicle pulled up – a white van I understand," Mr. Johnson said. "They went to open the gate and Huel approached them and told them the parking lot is full and they can’t come in. The passenger of the vehicle jumped out and reached over with his gun and said ‘boy if you ain’t get no gun on you don’t come no closer’."

Mr. Johnson said he was told that it was at this point that Mr. Ferguson proceeded to push back the gate which the man had started to open. The assailant opened fire and shot Mr. Ferguson, the proprietor said.

"They then fled and took off, but two eyewitnesses saw the driver and know who the driver is, so they were able to give the police the name of the person, the description of the vehicle and everything."

Mr. Johnson described the incident as a stupid one that should never have happened.

"They need to hang people on this island for crimes like this," he added.

Mr. Johnson said the driver of the vehicle is the grandson of a well-known New Providence resident.

"I can’t give names now until everything goes through the courts, but you’re going to hear the name and you’re going to realize that it’s these types of people who have the money to pay people off so that they don’t give evidence," he said.

"[There are people] going to jail for murder and are back out on bail within three months…Everybody’s making bail these days."

Dwayne Lloyd, entertainment coordinator at Cocktails and Dreams, said something needs to be done about the escalating crime rate.

He said gun laws need to strengthened.

"The government needs to introduce stiffer penalties for persons with illegal firearms. We need to start carrying out capital punishment. We need to put a curfew on these young kids," Mr. Lloyd said.

"Huel was a very good guy. Everyone who knows Huel knows that he’s a good guy…We have to do something [about crime] and stop talking,"

Mr. Ferguson’s widow, who spoke to the Journal from her Pinewood Gardens home, said she had already told their three daughters – ages 14, 11 and 7 – about their father’s death and she said they were not coping too well.

She said their six-year-old son was hospitalized and had not yet been told.

Speaking of her deceased husband, Mrs. Ferguson said, "He was an honest man making an honest living."

She said a doctor told her the single gunshot wound her husband received ruptured a blood vessel and he had internal bleeding.

Mrs. Ferguson, who is a security officer at another establishment owned by Mr. Johnson, said in some ways she feels discouraged about continuing in the field.