The victim, 31-year-old Cody Castillo of Crawfordville, Florida, was killed March 21 in Nassau after a dispute outside Da Plantation Bar & Grill, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. Authorities say the shooting involved Royal Bahamas Police Force Superintendent Berneil Pinder, 51, who was off duty at the time.
In a statement, the RBPF confirmed the senior officer has been charged and arraigned. National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said earlier that a criminal investigation had been opened.
“My understanding is that police responded to the scene, obtained CCTV footage, as they always do, and began an investigation,” Munroe said. “If there’s evidence that criminal charges should be brought, they will proceed. If not, the matter would go to a coroner’s inquest.”
A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed the death of an American citizen and said officials are closely following the investigation.
“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,” the spokesperson said, declining further comment out of respect for the family’s privacy.
The U.S. Embassy in Nassau also said it is monitoring the case and raised concern over reports about how the shooting unfolded.
“We are closely following the case of the shooting death of a U.S. citizen by an off-duty police officer,” a spokesperson said. “We note with deepest concern reports that the officer followed the unarmed victim to his vehicle before fatally shooting him. We urge the Government of The Bahamas to ensure the victim receives justice without delay.”
Authorities have released few additional details about what led to the shooting.
A GoFundMe page identifies Castillo as a lineman for Pike Electric who had been working in the Bahamas. It says he and his wife, Mikayla, had been married about a year and were expecting their first child, a boy due in August.
“Cody was working to support his family,” the fundraiser states. “Then, in a moment that changed everything, his life was taken by senseless violence while he was working abroad.”
