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Turning now to crime news, a Chinese businessman was gunned down in Santa Elena early this morning. He was coming home from a night out when he was targeted by two robbers. But business owners in the area say that there's been a spike in crime ever since the Hawkesworth Bridge was closed for repairs back in April. Now, not only have they been losing business, but they're also worried about their own safety. Our news team went west today, and Courtney Menzies has this story.
This is where Sheng Wen Wu fell around 3:00 this morning after being pursued by armed robbers. They came on a motorcycle and ambushed him here about 200 feet away at his business place, Allan's Restaurant, as he was exiting his vehicle.
He told them he didn't have any money and tried to escape but the killers were determined to steal the few dollars he may have had as he reportedly returned from the casino. He didn't make it far before one of the men opened fire.
It's another business person targeted in an area where multiple other storeowners told us there's been increasing violence.
Voice of: Vendor
"The main thing is that things are happening now because of the bridge, the bridge close and now we don't have the patrol unit passing like how they used to pass, they're on foot but it takes a little while for them to come around. That's the main one and after 9 I see most of the businesses close and whosoever is left behind to continue into the night, then we're the ones who have to look out for each other."
"From the time the bridge close, I don't know the name of the supermarket, that was the first one and now this one that just happened."
Jules Vasquez:
"When you see a murder like this, are you concerned for your own safety?"
Voice of: Vendor
"Yes I'm even thinking about giving up because you have to be watching your back and then people might think you're making money but at this time of the year you're not making money and with the bridge being closed, you aren't making any type of money and you're just struggling and the little bit that you make, you just invest it back again and people will come and hurt you for the little bit of money that you have."
It's an increasing feeling of insecurity and powerlessness as economic opportunities in this area have dwindled since the temporary closure of the Hawkesworth Bridge.
Voice of: Vendor
"From the time the bridge closed down, all of us are struggling, big time. You could ask anybody, we even tried to plead with the town council so that they could do something about it so that the bridge could open faster than the time that they say because they said 6 to 7 months but I don't know if it'll happen."
"We mostly depends on the people that are passing through. Yes you get your business from the people living around us but mostly it's the people that are passing through."
Police recovered 7 - nine millimeter shells at the scene. No one has been detained.
