A Bahamian whistleblower who exposed alleged corruption by senior police officials in the Caribbean country was shot dead during a Facebook Live broadcast from his Florida apartment on Monday.
An hour and 20 minutes after Sylvens Metayer began complaining on social media about his living conditions in the United States, bullets began flying into his Hollywood, Florida, home. According to NBC Miami.
The video shows Mr Metaie falling to the ground and appearing to have been shot, before at least seven gunshots ring out.
“I got shot in the face here,” Metayer said after grabbing his cellphone and moving to another room. “Hey, guys, go on the attack on me.”
A baby could be heard crying in the background while the man’s girlfriend told the 911 operator that Metaye had been shot and needed an ambulance.
Metaye showed a wound on his left cheek and bloodstains on his shorts.
“They got me,” he said before paramedics arrived.
“He was grazed in the face, shot in the leg and appears to have been grazed in the back,” one officer can be heard saying.
Metayer is known in the Bahamas for his Facebook account, which explains conspiracy theories and allegations about the island nation.
He recently spoke out against Superintendent Michael Johnson of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, who is accused of negotiating bribes with wanted criminals. According to the Miami Herald.
Metayer released Johnson’s audio notes, sparking public distrust of police. The Nassau Guardian reported.
According to the media, the recording shows a man believed to be a wanted suspect negotiating with two others to turn himself in and the cost of his release after questioning.
The RBPF’s Security Intelligence branch launched an investigation into allegations of corruption against Johnson and he was placed on paid leave.
“We are listening to the call records on social media and investigations are already underway to determine their credibility, understand when, where and who took place, identify all voices and search for clues in the sounds of the environment,” Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said, according to the media.
“We fully understand that this incident will impact public confidence and their trust in the Royal Bahamas Police Service,” Fernander said.
Fernander assured that the investigation would be “independent, impartial and fair” and that the case “won’t disappear out the back door.”
It has not been revealed how Metayer obtained the audio note, but the shooting occurred just hours after Fernander announced his investigation.
The paper said law enforcement agencies from the US and UK were assisting the SIB in its investigation.
Metayer told emergency responders he was livestreaming when the bullets started flying.
“The FBI knows I’m here. I’m having problems with the Bahamian government. I was in the paper today so they’ve probably sent someone to kill me,” he said.
Mr Metaye was eventually helped off the ground and taken to hospital where he was treated for his injuries, and the livestream continued with the camera on for a further hour.
Investigators have not released a motive or suspect in the shooting, NBC Miami reported.
