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Man Shoots Into Crowd In Ladyville, Injures 3
posted (February 17, 2014)
Public terror was unleashed last night in Ladyville when a gunman opened fire on a crowded public event at the community basketball court.

It happened at around 8:30 when the gunman pulled out a shotgun and without any regard for the crowd - which included children - shot at a group sitting in the bleachers.

Innocent people got shot, while many others could have been hurt, or even killed because the gunman fired indiscriminately. Daniel Ortiz went to Ladyville today to find out what happened:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
Public Terror unfolded last night here at the Ladyville Basketball court when a family function was broken up at the sound of shotgun blasts.

Around 200 villagers and their children were at a PUP event organized to be a sports day. It was supposed to be an outing of activities to promote peaceful and enjoyable interactions, but somehow, violence made its way into the event.

ASP Chris Noble - Rural Executive Officer
"The incident last night in the area of the basketball court, very near to the station - apparently someone went there with what we believe to be a firearm and fired at a group of person or a person. We are not sure as yet, we are looking into it and 2 persons were injured. The 2 persons were attended to, they have been treated and released and our investigation into it continues."

Multiple reports to us are that personalities well known to police were on the basketball court at the time, and some sort of argument took place. One of the men supposedly then left after he felt disrespected, and when he returned, he was armed with a shot gun. When he got to his desired location on the Basketball Compound, he took aim at a group at the top of the bleachers and fire a blast while everyone watching the basketball game that was taking place.

That sent the gathering in a panicked state. After all, they were there attending a family function, and so, no one suspected that this would happen. With people running all over the place, and some taking cover in fear of being shot, it took 37 year-old Arlene Bainton and 16 year-old Ornan Avila a little while to realize that they were struck by pellets from the blast.

One of them struck Bainton in the forehead.

Voice of: Arlene Bainton - Shooting Victim
"My family and I and friends went over to watch some basketball game because my son was playing a football game and it had finished, so we went to see the basketball game. I don't know what had transpired in the park or whatever. My cousin and I were talking when we heard boom and after that I saw everyone scatter. Then after that I saw my foot bleeding. The young man behind me got shot in his chest and foot. Then another young man got shot on his chin and hands."

ASP Chris Noble - Rural Executive Officer
"There was a prior incident. We can't say that they were the intended targets, we can't say that they were not but we are looking into it."

Voice of: Arlene Bainton - Shooting Victim
"We can't say that it was for us, but it just came our way."

A deadly shot gun blast just went their way… A frightening event to think about, but police say that the organizers failed to inform them that an event was taking place, so that they could provide adequate police security in place. That, they believe, could have ensured that the shooter could not just run into the compound while armed with a gun.

ASP Chris Noble - Rural Executive Officer
"Whether they were hanging out or playing basketball is unknown to me at this time because we had no information saying that there was a basketball game going on."

Daniel Ortiz
"Does it concern you that a shooter would just come up and open fire on an event where families and kids are?"

Voice of: Arlene Bainton - Shooting Victim
"That doesn't normally happen, so it was unexpected for us. We always go out on the basketball court or in the park or whatever and enjoy our day, like a family day that they set aside just for Ladyville. We were up there not knowing that bullets would come for us. That wasn't expected."

"I got 5 shots in my right leg and one to the head and one to the hand."

ASP Chris Noble - Rural Executive Officer
"We detained 2 persons and we are looking into the detention of at least one other person that may be able to assist us with our investigation."

There was an estimated 200 or so people on the court at the time, and fortunately, only 3 of them got injured. The main suspect, we're told, is well known to police.

As you heard in our story, the event was organized by persons affiliated with the PUP, but one oversight took place where they did not hire police security to ensure the safety of the villagers who attended. Today, we contacted PUP Area Representative Dolores Balderamos-Garcia for comment, but she did not respond to our text message requests. We've been informed that she is out in the Cayes, and will not return until tomorrow.

We spoke with one of the personalities in her camp who told us that indeed the event was organized by members who ran for the Village Council on a PUP slate. They reportedly went to Balderamos-Garcia for her assistance with funding, which she granted. They also promoted the event to the village presenting it as a venture she endorsed. This operator told us that that if Balderamos Garcia had fully supported it, she would have ensured that police were there for security.

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