A 43-year-old Strand man was arrested following a shooting incident in which two minors were wounded.
According to a police report, the incident occurred at 15:50 in Broadlands Park last Friday (7 February). The suspect, wearing traditional Muslim attire, was apparently seen walking in Petunia Street. As he neared an alley, he allegedly revealed the firearm and suddenly opened fire, shooting at people on the other end of the passageway.
“In the process, he shot a 16-year-old girl in the foot and wounded a seven-year-old boy. A passing Gordon’s Bay police patrol vehicle responded to the incident. After the suspect was chased by community members he shot at police. When his gun was empty, the suspect dropped the firearm and surrendered,” the report read.
The suspect, Eugene Abrahams, was arrested and a 9 mm-firearm seized.
Abrahams appeared in the Strand Magistrates’ Court on Monday (10 February) on two charges of attempted murder and a charge of possession of an illegal firearm. The case is being investigated by the anti-gang unit.
The father of the seven-year-old boy said he and his wife were visiting friends nearby when the incident occurred. While they were socialising, their son was riding a bicycle with their friend’s son.
“The next moment we heard gunshots and immediately ran for our son. He ran toward us crying. I thought he might be crying out of fear, but then noticed the blood on his clothes and learnt that he was shot in the behind. The bullet exited though the groin,” said the parent.
He recalled not being able to think in the moment, but expressed being thankful that his son was discharged on Monday and is on the road to recovery.
“The incident has me livid and I want justice. The problem is that perpetrators are arrested and in custody the one moment, and back out on the streets committing another crime the next,” he said.
