A 30-year-old Paget man was shot in broad daylight on Saturday afternoon on Sound View Road in Sandys.

The incident, which happened only yards from where neighbourhood children play, left many area residents shaken up.

The shooting victim, who has not been named, was shot in the leg. He was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and released later that day. Neighbours say they were going about their normal routines when three gun shots rang out shortly after 2 p.m. Police were on the scene within minutes and had cordoned off the area, near Somerset Road, to search for gun shells left behind.

The incident marks a wave of gun crime to hit the West End. The Royal Gazette spoke to residents in the area shortly after the shooting. Many appeared to be in shock. One said: "It is just so scary, right on the corner as well. We have tenants and both of them have little children and it makes you not want to go outside.

"I can't believe it, it is just gone from bad to worse. The fact that at broad daylight people are shooting off guns it is just out of control. This last year has been so violent in Bermuda. And I feel so sorry for the Police as well because they have a hard ride ahead of them with these young people."

Another resident said she was "really bothered" and "uncomfortable" by the incident being so close to home.

She said it was near to where Gary (Fingaz) Cann, 22, was murdered in December of last year, but said this was even more shocking because it was in the middle of the day.

"[This is a] neighbourhood where children come and play and they are all little," she said. "This is so unexpected I couldn't imagine it would happen again, but then again I didn't think it would happen in the first place."

Another resident said: "I am concerned and it does make me nervous about the situation because you never know where the stray bullet's going to hit."

Governor Richard Gozney said: "News of yet another shooting appalls all of us who want to see a peaceful Bermuda and an end to the gangland murders and attempted murders. The criminals seem to have closed their ears to public opinion and to their own community leaders. Perhaps they will pay more attention to the Courts. There have been ten murders by shooting and over 20 attempted murders by shooting in Bermuda in the last 14 months.

"In seven of those shootings suspects have been charged to court. One trial has taken place, that of Cervio Cox who was convicted. In the coming months we shall see the trials of the others who have already been charged.

Sir Richard continued: "I hope that we shall also see in due course suspects charged to court in some of the remaining 20 to 25 shootings. "There is no impunity in Bermuda. We need to see the shooters realising that in court, if they cannot believe it out on the street."

Michael Dunkley, Shadow Minister of Public Safety said the latest incident shows the continuing trend of gunmen showing "no regard for people, property, place or time of day".

He said: "The Island has been rocked from east to west and we would be foolish to think this violence will abate anytime soon.

"The violence is getting bolder and sadly it appears that the shock of what is happening on our streets and in our neighbourhoods is no longer that shocking to the community. "

Police should be commended for their efforts but Government needs to do more, he said. Mr. Dunkley suggested a programme which has had success elsewhere, 'Operation Ceasefire'. He said it brings together tough policing techniques and the "compassionate force" of community support.

The Senator has also proposed that a Joint Select Committee be appointed to "allow all politicians in the House and Senate to join hands together" to put in framework necessary to tackle the problem.

"The community expects us to do this and our future relies on us working together," he added.

Craig Cannonier, leader of Bermuda Democratic Alliance, admitted it was frustrating that Bermudians have become acclimatised to shootings and view them as "just another day in Bermuda".

He said: "I applaud the Police Service for its ability as it appears they are making some headway and apprehending the culprits after the fact.

"However it is most important that our current administration work with the organisations and communities and the people of Bermuda. We have got to be working with folks in order to stop this from happening in the first place. The question is what is the root of this type of behaviour? Once we identify it we can start dealing with it so we can follow up and stop this unnecessary violence."

Police are appealing for anyone that may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the Somerset Road and Sound View Road area in Sandys to call 295-0011 or the confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hot line 800-8477.