A man alleged to have shot a Canadian teenage girl has been arrested by St Catherine police. The man was wanted for reportedly injuring the 13-year-old girl while she was standing on a balcony on New Year’s Day. Police found him during an operation in Braeton, Portmore, on Tuesday, January 6.
Investigators say the suspect was captured during an early morning raid carried out by members of the Area Five Fugitive Apprehension Team. The operation began about 5:00 a.m. at a house on Violet Close, where officers executed a search warrant.
Police reportedly seized a .45 Colt MK pistol along with a magazine containing one round of ammunition at the premises. Upon discovering the firearm, officers placed the 37-year-old man under arrest. He is being held on suspicion of possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorised possession of ammunition.
The incident involving the Canadian teen occurred shortly after midnight, around 12:02 a.m., on January 1. Reports indicate that the girl was visiting family for the holiday. She sustained gunshot wounds when she was watching fireworks from a balcony along Dreamland Drive in Portmore. Loud explosions were heard in the area, and then she was struck by bullets in the thigh and back. The girl received medical treatment at a nearby hospital, and her condition was stable.
The Canadian teen was not the only young person injured during the celebrations. Police confirmed that a second teenage girl, aged 14, was also wounded by gunfire on New Year’s Day. That incident took place in Kingston shortly after midnight. The girl was reportedly sitting outside under a tree in her neighbourhood when shots were fired. She sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder, which she realised after feeling a burning sensation. She, too, was in a stable condition when she was treated at a hospital.
Police believe both incidents stemmed from illegal gun salutes, which were strongly and repeatedly discouraged days before New Year’s Eve. Officials have since condemned the incidents and reiterated their warnings. Investigators have again urged members of the public to come forward and contact the police if they have any information that could assist with the investigations into the shootings.