Two young men are tonight at the Karl Heusner, one of them in critical condition, after being shot numerous times. Alex "Lexus" O'brien was standing on East Canal, and Terrence 'Natty' Bailey, was riding his bicycle in the area, when gunshots once again erupted in the troubled neighborhood. Seven News was first on the scene and Alfonso Noble files this report.
Alfonso Noble reporting,
Despite the presence of 4 BDF officers armed with M-16 rifles and a police officer armed with a 38 revolver, shortly before three this afternoon, gunshots rang out on the embattled East Canal area. Reports are that a gunman or gunmen were inside a pickup truck which pulled up alongside two young men who were on the East Canal sitting down, one of them on a bicycle. Firing from within the vehicle as is evident by the splintered glass on the ground, the two young men became the targets. Shortly after gunning down the men, the pickup took off from the scene but not before a police officer fired 5 shots into the fleeing vehicle. One area resident who lives immediately in front of where the shootings took place quickly went to the aid of the fallen men.
Eyewitness
When I si them da di kennel deh, I just run down when he come out and I di wet ah cause y di get weak, y di get weak so I wet ah.
Alfonso Noble
He mi drop inna di kennel?
Eyewitness
Yeah, he mi deh inna di kennel.
Alfonso Noble
So, weh part he mi deh when he get shot?
Eyewitness
I no know, I just wake up and I peep through the window. I jus wake and I si dis one di shoot, dah one di shoot and di police di shoot to. I know the young man. Da wah nice young man, wah friendly young man and I know ah.
Alfonso Noble
But this is, your house is right in the line of fire here.
Eyewitness
I know, and that's why I mek sure I deh da back, I sleep da back, I no sleep da front a my house. The amount a shooting 'round ya, shooting, shooting, shooting study. My bredda come from L.A. and he mi stay ya and he move sake a dat, si. He drive up back, he gone yesterday and he no stay ya, he move because everynight, everynight, everynight, everyday, everynight. This lady could tell you right deh, aunt Joyce. I no know, da we beg dem fi mek the police continue stay 'round ya.
Alfonso Noble
While police were recovering 7 expended shells and a live 9 millimeter round, they received reports of a fleeing vehicle which made its way up-stop on Tigris Street and was abandoned here on Allenby Street. Ensuring that the vehicle is not traced it is believed that the fleeing men tore off the insurance tag that was on the vehicle's windshield. Now police are on high alert even as residents complain of the uselessness of having armed military men who they claim did not respond to the assault.
O'brien, who has had a long history with the law, sustained multiple gunshots to the thigh, leg and scrotum and is listed in critical condition. Bailey received gunshots to his buttocks and arm, he is listed in stable condition.