By LR LiburdThe St. Kitts-Nevis Observer
Three young men who were shot, in as many days in two separate incidents, are convalescing at the Joseph N France General Hospital and the police are seeking the public’s assistance in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The first incident occurred at approximately 9:25 p.m. on Tuesday (July 19) in the vicinity of Mad House Alley in Newtown.
Reports reaching The Observer state that while 19-year-old Shivorn Smith of Ponds Pasture and 18-year-old Derrick Hendrickson of Newtown were sitting in an area in Mad House Alley, an unknown assailant or assailants approached and fired a number of shots in their direction.
According to one resident, “I was watching a movie when I heard about six to eight shots being fired. It sounded as if someone was using an automatic rifle or more than one person was shooting at the same time. It happened so fast that when I decided to venture outside a small crowd had gathered and I learned that the person or persons who did the shooting had already fled the scene.”
The resident claimed that both teens were shot to their legs and one of them whom he believes was Hendrickson, had run away from the scene but was later located by the police and taken to the hospital.
Shortly after the incident, investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as well as technicians from the Forensic Services Unit were seen canvassing the area for items of evidential value.
It was learned that Smith was transported to the hospital via police vehicle.
So far, no one has been held responsible for this incident.
The other incident took place at about 9:15 a.m. on Thursday (July 21) in St. Johnston Village within proximity of the Police Traffic Department on Station Street and the JNF General Hospital.
The victim’s name was given as Vernon ‘Pest’ Elliott of St. Johnston Village and he was reportedly shot twice in the region of his buttocks.
According to reports, Elliott was on Virgil Newton Street, a street on the eastern side of the hospital, when a lone gunman started shooting at him. He took evasive action by running along Station Street in the direction of the Police Traffic Department with the gunman in hot pursuit firing more shot after him.
Elliott however managed to evade him by seeking refuge at the Police Traffic Department.
Several male residents in the area manually took him to the hospital.
Investigators also canvassed this scene for evidence but, similar to the Newtown incident, no suspect has been held.
This is not the first time that an attempt was made on Elliott’s life.
At 8:00 p.m. on January 2, 2013, he was shot while among revellers ‘jamming’ to the music of Nu Vybes Band on Church Street in the vicinity of Government Headquarters.
The police are however asking anyone who might have information, which could lead to the apprehension and successful prosecution of the assailants in these two incidents, to contact the VCU at 467-1886, 467-1887 or 467-1888; or the CID at 465-2241, ext. 220 or 231; the nearest police station or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 (TIPS).
