Seven-minutes of hell - Central Kingston woman’s life flashed before her eyes after being injured in drive-by shooting

Sharon* grimaced as she hopped off her bed, clutching on to her bandaged left shoulder, which now serves as a frightening reminder of the seven minutes of hell that she endured on Friday during a drive-by shooting on Smith Lane in Central Kingston.

She and four others were shot and injured following a bizarre shooting about 4 p.m. that day. The police are theorising that brazen late afternoon attack was coordinated.

It happened while several of the residents were out on the street playing music and enjoying a game of lodi. None of the injuries suffered by the victims were deemed serious, however, the incident has left them with deep psychological scars and genuine fears.

"Mi just tell mi grand-daughter fi go inside because she did deh beside me a the stall a watch some people a play lodi and music. Then same time mi start hear baay shot a fire, when mi look a gunman pon bike a ride a come dung the lane and just a fire gunshot," the woman said as she nervously scanned the environment around her.

Sharon said she sought refuge behind a zinc fence. After the shooting subsided, the businesswoman said she only felt a stinging pain across her chest and when she looked, her deepest fears were revealed. She was shot in the left arm while also picking up a graze on the left side of her chest.

"I always fear being in a situation like this and a it this come face me," Sharon said.

Her voice cracked as she recalled frightening experience while stating that her thoughts were firmly on her children's safety during the whole ordeal.

"Mi whole life flashed in front of mi. Mi start think bout mi pickney and grand pickney dem," she said.

When contacted for a comment on the matter, Superintendent Berrisford Williams, who is the commanding officer for the Kingston Central Police Division, said he could not state if the shooting was gang-related. He, however, disclosed that the police are following a few leads, which they believe could result in an arrest soon.

* Name changed to protect identity