21-year-old in ICU after being shot multiple times
A young man remained in the Intensive Care Unit last night after being shot multiple times on Monday.The 21-year-old was hit twice in the abdomen and once in the leg in what detectives are classifying as a gang-related attempted murder. Police held a press conference at the scene just East of Khyber Pass in Warwick yesterday in the hope of jogging witnesses' memories.According to Acting Superintendent Sean Field-Lament, the victim was on a motorcycle heading west at 8.20pm, with a 20-year-old man as his pillion passenger. Two suspects on another motorcycle, which was also heading west, pulled alongside and shot at the victim several times. The victim was hit three times while his pillion passenger sustained minor abrasions.A female car driver was first on the scene, and rendered assistance to the victim, according to A/Supt Field-Lament. The woman's son told The Royal Gazette his mother's car was pulled over by individuals who jumped in and urged her to get the wounded man to hospital.However, the detective said yesterday that an ambulance was called, and the victim was conveyed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in that vehicle.The culprits were dressed in dark clothing, and police appealed for anyone who may have seen them acting suspiciously or riding at speed in the area to come forward.“The Serious Crime Unit is seeking information from the public on possible suspects; specifically information on any persons, dressed in all dark clothing, seen riding a motorcycle in the area of St Mary's Road, Longford Road and Middle Road, Warwick, acting suspiciously or travelling at high speeds around 8pm Monday night,” said the detective.“Police are aware that there were several commuters travelling on Middle Road, Warwick around the time of the incident. Investigators are asking that these commuters come forward and make contact with the investigative team. Any bit of information may be valuable to the investigators.”He added that police are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and would like members of the public who have their own security cameras to do the same, in case they can help the inquiry.A/Supt Field-Lament would not give further information on the suspected gang aspect of the case. Asked about arrests, he said: “We have some leads we are following up but there have been no arrests at present.”Police have not named the victim, who declined a request for comment yesterday. We have opted not to publish his name. He was described as being in a “stable” condition by a hospital spokeswoman.The shooting was the fifth in the space of just three weeks. The recent spree began with gunfire along The Glebe Road, Pembroke on October 2.A group of four men escaped injury when two suspects riding a dark-coloured motorcycle shot at them four times, around 12.45pm.Three days later, a Parks Department worker on the Trimingham Hill roundabout dodged three shots from two riders on a motorcycle.A man received a minor wound to his hand on Friday, October 7, while riding a motorcycle with another man on North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish. They were fired upon by two men riding a motorcycle.The incident was originally reported as a road traffic collision. Six hours later, in the old Clay House Inn car park near Devonshire's Gravity Night Club, a 25-year-old Devonshire man received minor gunshot injuries. He was released from hospital following treatment.Two men have been charged with conspiracy to murder and gun offences in relation to the incident near Gravity.Residents of Seagull Lane in Spanish Point reported seeing armed police descend on a house around noon yesterday, with two men apparently being arrested. One of the men arrived at the house a short time earlier, according to a neighbour.The road was blocked off for some time, with police and police dogs searching the area after the suspects were taken away. Only residents were allowed onto the road.The Spanish Point raid was not related to the investigation into the Warwick shooting, according to sources. Anyone with information about the Warwick shooting should call Acting Detective Inspector Jason Smith on 247-1218 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers line on 800-8477.