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The yuletide season began on a violent note in Christ Church on Monday night, with a motorist and a catamaran owner shot in separate incidents less than three hours apart and now being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

The first took place around 7:30 p.m. in Gall Hill, where police reports indicate a man was driving a vehicle along the roadway when gunshots were fired, leaving him injured. He was taken by private vehicle to the QEH, where he is receiving medical treatment.

Three hours later, a catamaran owner was attacked at gunpoint at his home. Investigations revealed that an assailant confronted him with a firearm and discharged several shots, injuring the man, who was also taken to the QEH by car and remains under medical care. Authorities said investigations into both incidents are ongoing.

Speaking on Tuesday, a colleague of the second victim, who declined to give his name, confirmed his condition. “He’s stable and he has to undergo some surgery today. He has two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and one to the face. He’s been able to speak through the whole thing all the way down in the car and be coherent and even as much as to pass certain information that I need today to help him with his operations. We have good hopes and we feel confident and positive that he will come through this,” the colleague said.

The boat owner himself spoke of the trauma and the need for vigilance. “These people catch you when you are least thinking about it, when you are off guard, and they know this as well. And I would urge everybody out there, not just business people, but everybody, to keep an eye over your shoulder at all times. It’s when you come home and you think you’re in a safe environment of your home, you are [should be still] aware,” he said.

He added that the incident had prompted him to reassess the security of his own business and properties. “I too am a business person and I have rental properties that have visitors, and I preach this to them and now what has happened . . .  has made me even relook this again at what and how I have to secure myself and my business and my guests. Everyone around me, my children, everything, thoughts are going through my mind as to how to improve that security.” (SZB)

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