A high-ranking Bahamian law enforcement official has been formally charged with homicide following the fatal shooting of an American citizen outside a West Bay Street establishment. Superintendent Berneil Pinder, 54, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans in criminal court yesterday, where he faced allegations of murdering 31-year-old Cody Castillo from Huntsville, Texas.
The incident occurred on March 21 around 6pm following an altercation at Da Plantation Bar & Grill. Prosecutors assert that the off-duty officer fired through the side window of a white Ford truck, striking Castillo in the chest. The victim was discovered outside the vehicle in a pool of blood and pronounced deceased at the scene.
The case has triggered significant diplomatic engagement, with US Ambassador Herschel Walker confirming both contact with the victim’s family and the unusual offer of FBI investigative assistance to Bahamian authorities. Castillo’s death is particularly tragic as he leaves behind a wife who is four months pregnant.
Pinder, who appeared in ankle restraints and a dark suit rather than his police uniform, remained silent during proceedings. Represented by attorneys Cassie Bethel and Ian Cargill, the superintendent was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services without entering a plea. The case will advance to the Supreme Court via voluntary bill of indictment, with Pinder eligible to seek bail in the higher court. A subsequent hearing is scheduled for July 25.
Ambassador Walker emphasized the United States’ commitment to justice in this matter, stating: ‘The protection and wellbeing of American citizens will always be the highest priority of any Embassy.’ The case represents a rare instance of a senior police officer facing murder charges in The Bahamas and has attracted international media attention.