The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AFTER the violence hit close to home, DNA leader Branville McCartney criticised the government for its failure to crack down on the country’s escalating crime problem.

Mr McCartney is the cousin of Kadesha Treco, the 17-year-old girl who was one of four persons shot over the weekend.

She was shot around 3 am after an altercation outside of Club Luna on West Bay Street.

On Monday night, Mr McCartney said, doctors successfully completed an operation on Kadesha’s spinal chord, which was injured in the hail of bullets.

Police said she, along with two other men, are in serious, but stable condition.

Mr McCartney said: "Crime in this place is just out of control. It is very sad and unfortunate that not only this happened, but a number of other crimes happened on the weekend."

"But we just thank God the operation went well, because we know it could have been a lot worse."

There is now an immediate concern for the victim's safety as Mr McCartney said he was told gunmen entered the hospital where Kadesha and the two other men are recuperating armed with guns.

"I was told that some hours later, the men came in armed and dangerous, looking for the victims," he said.

Calls made to Hospital and police officials to confirm the claim were not returned.

The incident also claimed the life of 20-year-old Akio Françoise Burrows.

Burrows, who was described by police as having a "long rap sheet," was accused of murder, a number of shootings, drug possession, gun possession, and housebreaking.

He was declared dead at the scene.

At the time, Supt Paul Rolle, head of the Homicide Division, said police did not believe the killing was retaliation, but rather the result of an argument.

"We have no evidence to suggest the killing was retaliatory, but I can confirm the victim was well known to police. However, I will not comment on his character. Our investigations suggest that he got shot as a result of a fight, he just happened to be the only one that died. There was an altercation outside the club and someone had a weapon with them,” he said.

“I suggest to anyone to get home at a reasonable hour. If you see a fight break out, if you cannot leave the property, go inside the building until it calms down or until the police arrive. If you get into an altercation with someone do not try to leave, wait on the police, you may get attacked if you try to leave.”