Police vow to track down shooting suspects

Amidst reports that two men have been held in connection with two shooting incidents after midday on Saturday, acting Commissioner of Police, Erwin Boyce, has vowed a relentless pursuit of the suspects responsible.

He told a news conference at the Oistins Police Station, called to address the two shootings, which both occurred moments apart and mere kilometres apart, that lawmen were committed to securing public spaces and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Both incidents unfolded in quick succession just after noon on Saturday, with the first reported outside King of Fades Barbershop at the Sheraton Mall. Commissioner Boyce detailed the sequence of events, stating, “Two masked men entered the Sheraton car park compound on a motorcycle, and the pillion rider got off and discharged a number of shots. At the time of the discharge, one of the customers or clients from the barbershop was exiting, and he was struck with one of the bullets, but he managed to secure the barbershop by locking the door.” 

Despite this, the shooter continued firing, and “the ricochet also injured  … two persons on the inside.”

Within 30 minutes, the second shooting was reported in Silver Sands, Christ Church, near McClean Drive. Boyce explained, “Two men on motorcycles drove into the area, and the pillion got off and fired at a group of men who were sitting under a tree. Unfortunately, a passerby who was taking a walk home ran, and he got struck with a bullet in the lower part of his legs.”

Expressing concern over the attackers’ audacity, the acting commissioner highlighted the need for swift action. “It’s unfortunate that it happened, and it happened during the day, and this is what concerns us — the brazenness in terms of the particular shooting at Sheraton, the Sergeant Village location, and the fact that the riders were masked during the course of the day,” he emphasised. “We are not accustomed to seeing people masked, walking around with masks during the day, or riding around with masks during the day.”

The acting commissioner called for public co-operation in the investigation. “As usual, we solicit all the information we can from members of the public, and we want to emphasise that we are very serious about the harbouring and the influencing of those persons who are bent on committing this kind of intentional activity. We are really not going to pause until we find those two persons,” he said resolutely.

When questioned whether the two incidents might be linked, Boyce indicated that authorities were investigating a possible connection. “There’s enough for us to believe that there is some connection to the same motorcycle and missing persons,” he stated.

Pressed on whether the shootings were targeted at specific individuals, Boyce was cautious. “We believe that they were intentional, but at this point in time, it would be difficult for me to say that they were directed at a particular individual,” he explained.

He was further asked about possible gang involvement in the incidents, but Boyce refrained from speculation.

He confirmed that the police are aware of individuals of interest but withheld further details due to the sensitivity of the investigation. He issued a warning to anyone aiding the suspects: “If you are harbouring, if you are influencing, then prepare to face us as we continue the investigations into these matters.”

With concerns over possible retaliatory violence arising, the commissioner acknowledged that police were preparing for such a scenario. 

Echoing public concerns regarding the wearing of masks, especially among motorcyclists, Boyce noted the Prime Minister’s previous call for measures to prevent the misuse of masks for criminal purposes. “We are always mindful of the law under the minor offences in terms of wearing masks and those sorts of things,” he said, clarifying that the masks observed in these incidents were not related to COVID-19 or respiratory illness. “So definitely, those are the type of masks that we want to target.” (RG)