Late night shooting near heritage site

Violence marred what had been, by
all accounts, a successful East End Heritage Day event Tuesday when three men
were shot inside a vehicle parked near the site where a street party had just
wrapped up.

None of the three men were killed,
but all three remained in hospital Wednesday.

According to witnesses, the
shooting occurred around 1.40am in the street near the East End MLA office. The
location is close to where the annual Heritage Day street party was held. 

Event organiser Alvin McLaughlin
said the shooting scene was about 400 yards away from the festival site and
that the street party finished up about half an hour before shots rang
out. 

“I was home in bed by the time
I got the call about what happened,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “The event
was already over.” 

Mr. McLaughlin said there was a
party going on at a private house near the East End event where drinking was
occurring.  East End Heritage Day allows its patrons to purchase alcohol,
but they have a licence to do so, Mr. McLaughlin said.

He said he had previously
complained to government officials about that home and the parties that were
perennially held in proximity to the East End Heritage Day event.

“Last year, I brought it to their
attention,” he said. “They promised me it wouldn’t happen this year.”

Police gave no indication whether
the revelers at the nearby home, or those who were slow to leave the East End
Heritage Day site had anything to do with the shooting.

According to investigators, three
men and a woman were within a vehicle across the road from the Texaco petrol
station on Sea View Road.
As they were about to drive off from the area, police said another man ran
towards the car and began shooting at the occupants.

The three men within the car
suffered various injuries from the gunfire. The woman escaped without being
struck by the bullets.

Police said the gunman ran from the
scene and was last spotted heading into a large crowd gathered at the location.

Armed officers patrolling the area
arrived on the scene immediately. A cordon was put in place and first aid was
administered to the injured men, police said.

The shooting victims’ injuries are
not thought to be life-threatening.

No arrests have been reported and
police are asking anyone who was in the area at the relevant time to come
forward.

Information can be passed to Bodden
Town CID on 947-2220 or Crime Stoppers 800-TIPS (8477).