The Tribune

By CHESTER ROBARDS

Tribune Senior Reporter

crobards@tribunemedia.net

THREE people were shot yesterday in two separate incidents that occurred within hours of each other, one while police conducted a walkabout with members of the press only streets away.

A man was left in critical condition after he was shot multiple times by a lone gunman at about 10am on Taylor Street off East Street, according to police. He was hit in the head at least once, according to eyewitnesses.

Police said the man was driving a gold coloured Honda on Taylor Street with one passenger when the gunman began shooting at the vehicle. According to their reports, the driver crashed the Honda into a silver coloured Honda after being shot, while the gunman fled on foot.

Superintendent Stephen Dean, who is head of the National Crime Prevention Office, said the passenger of the gold coloured Honda was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries. He issued no update on the driver of the silver Honda.

Eyewitnesses told The Tribune that they saw the silver Honda block the gold Honda before the gunman opened fire.

Police took two men away from the scene in handcuffs. However, it is not known if their arrest was related to this incident.

Supt. Dean said police are asking anyone with information about this shooting to contact them. “This gunman seems to be invisible,” he remarked, suggesting that police had not received much cooperation yesterday morning.

East Street was busy with pedestrians when The Tribune arrived on the scene.

“Anyone who might have been in the area, as little as the information seems to be, we want you to be able to tell us what you have seen because this gunman seems to be invisible in the area,” said Supt. Dean.

“We want to make these areas safe, but we cannot do it alone. We were just corners down the road doing a walkabout to ensure that these incidences don’t happen.”

He said this shooting is “a major concern” because lots of young and elderly East Street residents are home during the day. A window of the Phoenix Chinese Restaurant across the street from the scene appeared to have been shattered after being hit by a bullet.

“That is why we are out in full force in these communities because we know the potential for crime and the impact crime can have in these communities,” said Supt. Dean.

The second shooting incident that left two people in hospital occurred at about 2am yesterday outside a Bay Street nightclub.

According to police reports, the victims were standing outside the nightclub “when they heard gunshots and realized that they were shot.”

Police said they were both taken to hospital by Emergency Medical Service. They were detained in stable condition.

“A short time later, police recovered a white Honda Civic on Mackey Street, believed to be the vehicle involved in the incident,” a police report said.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them.