March 25 - A senior member of the Bahamian police force faced a murder charge in court on Wednesday in relation to a shooting that left a U.S. citizen dead over the weekend. The officer, identified as Superintendent Berneil Pinder, made a brief appearance before the Magistrate's Court in Nassau shortly before 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), his lawyer Ian Cargill Sr. said.
Cargill told the court that Pinder was not required to enter a plea at that appearance and that he is currently being held in prison while a request for bail is prepared for submission to the Bahamian Supreme Court.
According to police, the shooting occurred outside a popular restaurant on New Providence at about 6 p.m. EDT on Saturday after an altercation involving two people. Officers reported that one of the individuals involved entered a vehicle and "drove it in a threatening manner" toward Pinder, who then used his service weapon and shot the driver. The person killed in the incident was identified as Cody Castillo, 31, a U.S. citizen.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the Trump administration is closely tracking the investigation into Castillo's death.
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis on Tuesday said he had requested a full and transparent investigation into the shooting. Davis emphasized that "a badge can never place anyone above the law." He also called for a review of several police protocols, stating: "We must review the rules governing off-duty carriage of firearms, strengthen de-escalation standards, and examine less-lethal options for our law enforcement agencies, so officers have stronger tools to protect life wherever possible."
Officials noted that the Bahamas recorded eight police-involved shootings last year. A preliminary review of police reports indicates at least three such shootings so far in 2026.
The case is proceeding through the Bahamian judicial process with Pinder detained ahead of the bail application to the Supreme Court. Authorities and political leaders have signaled an intent to examine policy and procedure relating to off-duty armed officers and broader use-of-force protocols as the investigation moves forward.