Daylight drive-by shooting scares commuters

A group of commuters, including several school children, who were standing at the popular PriceRite bus stop along Chancery Street in St Andrew yesterday were given the scare of their lives after gunmen opened fire indiscriminately during a drive-by.

A man who the police believe was the intended target was shot several times in the upper body, while another man who was passing by as the shooting started was hit in the shoulder.

The two men, ages 24 and 47, were rushed to hospital where one of the victims is said to be in a critical state. The incident reportedly took place around 7:30 a.m., according to police.

Head of the St Andrew North Police Division, Superintendent Sherika Service, said the shooters were later involved in another incident.

"The shooters escaped on a motorbike but were later involved in a crash in the Queensborough area. I believe they ran away leaving the bike, which is now in our custody," Service said.

The senior cop condemned the shooting before highlighting the brazen nature in which criminals are operating.

"They are not governed by any laws or rules like the police, and they have various high-powered weapons at their disposal. So I would say that yes they are more armed and dangerous," she said.

"For instance, if you look at this morning's (Tuesday) shooting incident, if a target is on the public road, whether night or day and they want you, they are coming for you. A lot of persons were at Chancery Street but the shooting still occurred."

The shooting follows several gun-related crimes that have resulted in the death of at least five people within a month in service's division. She underscored that the citizens are becoming wary but sought to reassure them that the police will not allow criminals to operate with impunity.

"The other thing, too, is that persons who dabble in criminal activities are not dunce. They are very much educated and just as how we are trained, they are doing their own training," she said.

"I have a good management team and my foot soldiers are working. I know murders cause fear among the population and rightfully so, but we will continue do what we have to do from a policing perspective, be transparent, be effective, because we know their fears from dialogue with them. They (residents) are very fearful of being caught up in crossfire, or having a family member being involved. They are also fearful of talking to us and that is why community intervention is so important," Service said