New Providence Police have already began proceedings to have Andrew Valentino Williams, 31, a.k.a Joseph Thomas, extradited from a South Carolina detention centre.
Williams is wanted by Bahamian police for two murders.
According to a police spokes-man, Williams is awaiting extradition to stand trial for two murders and one armed robbery.
Williams, was recently located in a South Carolina jail, where he has been detained since August 2004 on narcotics trafficking charges.
Williams is one of two men police sought for shooting Chief Inspector William Moss during a foiled armed bank robbery February 28, 2000. Inspector Moss was shot twice ﾖ in the right side and thigh ﾖ during the attempted robbery of Royal Bank of Canada in Long Island.
The senior police officer was airlifted to New Providence by U.S. Coast Guard. Williams is believed to be one of two masked gunmen that rushed into the bank around 11:00 a.m. that morning demanding employees and customers to “lie on the floor.”
Police reports indicated that one of the men remained on watch at the door, while the second man went behind the counter searching drawers.
The gunman behind the counter then ordered the manager to open the safe, but she was unable to assist. The culprit at the door noticed Inspector Moss approaching and alerted his accomplice.
Police said, while attempting to escape, there was an exchange of gunfire and the officer was hit twice. The men were able to make their getaway in a rented car, which was later found burnt some distance away.
Inspector Moss died a month later.
Reports alleged that Williams confessed to the robbery and shooting, but while on bail police said that he murdered a second victim. Initial investigation revealed Williams stabbed a man to death while at a bar in Nassau following a heated altercation.
Williams was discovered by Chuck Morrow, a detective from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s fugitive unit in Spartanburg Detention Centre, South Carolina.
Andy Pallan, a Fort Lauderdale police spokesman said officer Morrow solved the case after learning that Williams fled to South Florida and might have been in a U.S. prison under another name.
Officer Morrow reportedly utilized a new finger printing system.
His theory proved correct, Williams was booked at the detention centre under the name Joseph Thomas.
By BARBARA WALKIN, Senior FN Reporter
