BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A drive-by shooting last night (June 16) in the vicinity of Manchester Avenue and Neverson Street West, Newtown created fear in the hearts of some residents of that area.
At approximately 10:15 p.m., the sounds of gunfire were heard coming from the direction of Manchester Avenue. Less than 10 minutes after, the area was crawling with members of the Special Services Unit, Criminal Investigation Department and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force.
On arrival at the scene, SKNVibes learnt that while a group of young men were in the vicinity of Manchester Avenue and Neverson Street West, an unlit car came from the western end of Manchester Avenue and someone from within fired four shots at them and fled the scene.
Fortunately, no one has reportedly been injured. However, officers combed the area and a number of shells were found on the street and taken into custody for further analysis.
Speaking with two males and a female resident of the area, the two men told this publication that they were walking west along Neverson Street West when they heard the first shot fired.
“On hearing the sound of the first shot,” the older of the two said, “we immediately stopped. Then about three seconds after another was fired followed by two more. Well, I didn’t wait to find out who or what was shooting and at whom. So, like a soldier, I made an about turn and put some wheels on my heels.
“Suddenly I heard the whistling sound of wind on my right side and thought that it must have been a bullet, but it was my partner who would have put Usain Bolt to shame. I finally caught up with him on Pond Road and we returned to the scene after the police officers arrived.”
Asked if either of them had seen the number plate of the vehicle, the other man said, “Everything happened so fast I ain’t had time to check on nutting but getting outa dere.”
The female resident said she was on her verandah and had just entered her home when she heard the report of gunfire.
She said she was gripped by fear and had wondered if she would have been an innocent victim if she had remained out of her home for five more seconds.
“This shooting thing is getting out of hand. People can’t even be safe in the confines of their own home nowadays. Even the slightest sound from the exhaust of a car makes me believe that it is a gunshot. You always have to be alert…the authorities have to step up to the plate and do something about this wanton shooting in this place. You can’t even think about moving out, because it is the same thing everywhere you go,” the woman said in a shaky voice.
This is the second incident of drive-by shooting in that part of Newtown in just over two weeks.
Shortly before 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 30, 2011, 20-year-old Adrian ‘Mac 1’ Stapleton of Neverson Street East was shot in the lower back and leg while at a public pipe at the junction of James Street and Manchester Avenue, just one corner away from last night’s incident.
Eyewitnesses had told this media house that a white car was travelling at a fast rate of speed along Manchester Avenue when someone from within fired three shots at Stapleton.
The eyewitnesses were however unable to see the registration number because they too had taken cover as Stapleton did.
Stapleton has since been discharged from the JNF General Hospital but no one has been held in connection with the drive-by shooting.
