The Vauxhall, Christ Church community was left in shock after an unknown gunman opened fire on a group of teenagers last Saturday night, injuring two boys.
Police said the children were outside a residence around 8:20 p.m. when an individual approached and discharged several gunshots. The two teens were transported by private vehicle to hospital.
Yesterday, the mother of a 14-year-old victim declined to speak, but the grandmother of the other, a 15-year-old, said it was a terrible feeling to have him injured in such a manner.
“All now, my heart pumping fast,” she said.
The woman, who did not want to be identified, said her grandson, a student of St Leonard’s Boys’ School, was shot in the right foot and now has to use a cane to walk, with the bullet still lodged in his foot.
“He’s not talking much; I think he’s traumatised.”
She told the Daily Nation youth in the area gathered at the same spot regularly, just a stone’s throw away from her house. She said she heard the shots but did not realise how close they were.
“A neighbour called me and told me what happened; I still can’t believe it,” she said.
The boy’s father, who too declined to be named, said they were not certain if his son would need surgery.
“He ain’t too bad right now, but this will set back his studies. Years ago, they had trouble like that here, but now it is a peaceful place. I’m surprised to see this happen now,” he said.
The upset man said he heard the shots and was not far away when the incident occurred, but as he was trying to determine where they could have come from, he received a call saying his son had been shot.
A neighbour said it was a “very scary” situation, especially as it involved teenagers.
“I heard the shots and then saw everybody trying to run. They were just little children sitting down talking, then ‘pew, pew, pew’. Honestly, I feel sorry for the youth, but I suppose it could have been worse,” she said.
Another neighbour said she too felt for the youngsters but still felt safe at home.
“I live here and I will always live here. Shootings happen all around. Just ’cause something like that happen, it won’t make me run away. Nobody can feel good that children get shoot, but I still feel safe at home.”
Police are appealing to anyone with information on the incident to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-8477, police emergency 211 or Oistins Police Station at 418-2604 or 418-2612. (CA)
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