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They were both shot - but in the circumstances, that has to be considered luck as they could have both been killed. It's just a block across from our 7news studio and our team arrived on the scene at the same time as police. Monica Bodden picks up the story:..

Monica Bodden Reporting
This was what it looked like on South Street yesterday evening. Police officers everywhere - scrambling to cover the area - fully armed.

Shortly after, an ambulance arrived - but the two victims - who were shot, were already taken to the hospital…over 10 expended shells were seen on the ground.

It is said that a blue van pulled up on the corner of South Street and Wagner's Lane -two gunmen exited the vehicle and commenced firing with what sounded like an automatic weapon.

The shots were fired in the direction of 26 year old Derrick Clarke and 56 year old Rose Arnold who was sitting in front of this yard on Wagner's Lane.

Clarke was shot to the left side of his abdomen, right leg and left arm - while Arnold was shot to her left leg.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Sometime around 4:45pm yesterday evening, Derek Clarke was sitting on Wagner's Lane not too far from his home inside of the street and on the opposite side of the street was one 56 years old Rose Arnold. Two gunmen approach them on Wagner's Lane and both men were arm and they open fire on them. Clarke receives injuries to his stomach, to his left leg, to his hand and Ms. Arnold receive injuries to her right foot. Both men made good their escape after the shooting occurred and Clarke and Arnold were transported to KHMH where they receive treatment and they are admitted to ward in stable condition."

A blue van was found on Albert Street in front of Wesley Church - which police believe the gunmen excited from.

That same van was reported stolen by a Chinese delivery man.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"it is believe that the gunmen exited that blue van that was found on Albert Street in front of Wesley church and I will also that that van was reported stolen earlier from a Chinese delivery man who was making a delivery somewhere on 3rd Street in the King's Park area. So we believe that that was the vehicle used for the orchestration as the means of transport for these gunmen but like I said we are investigating it. We have to try first of all establish who the assailant were and then see what all charges will be filed against them. But I know that the van had Corozal license plate and it is indeed was the van that was reported stolen earlier."

So far there are no motive for yesterday evening's shooting.

Berkley Street, Wagner's Lane and South Street are considered crime ridden areas. In 2010 we reported over a dozen shootings in those areas- including 2 murders.

But despite the heights of crime in that neighborhood, police say they have stepped up their patrols.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Well Monica we have stepped up the patrols. We have officers' already on the ground, we have officers covering - in that vicinity alone, we have Berkely Street patrol, we have the East Canal, West Canal, Plues Street, George Street patrols. We have a sub-station somewhere in the vicinity of Plues and Berkely and we have a sub-station also in the Mesopotamia area located on Dean Street. We are trying our best to find another location where we can put up another post - trying to deter these kinds of attacks and see what we can do to help reduce crime in that area."

And while Yearwood say the police are doing all they can to control crime in that area - he also encourages residents to play a part.

Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Also I must share with you Monica that we realize that we have several shooting incidents in that area and you always hear me appealing to the public - somebody must have seen something, so we are asking them to come forward even if you don't want to identify yourself. Help us to identify who are the orchestrators of these crimes and it might be by a phone call or maybe you come in to give us a statement, anything that you believe that you can do to help make your neighborhood safer because we are doing our part. We are trying to reduce crime and make the entire city and country of Belize safer for us the citizens of Belize."

No one has been arrested but police believe that it is gang related and word on the street is that shooting victim Derek Clarke was the target.