In less than 72 hours two male high school students were shot in the head- disturbingly in the same neighborhood. The first was 15 year old Tyrique Thompson on Monday night, and just before 10 last night,16 year old Ruben Leslie - a first form student of Wesley College was shot in his forehead. Leslie was riding his bicycle on Magazine Road on his way home -when approaching the corner of Banak Street and Magazine Road- a gunman came out from a nearby yard and fired several shots in his direction. The young man was shot in his left leg and forehead and was quickly rushed to the KHMH - where today he is listed in a critical condition.
Voice of Friend
"He was riding up the street and then I saw somebody ran out from an open lot and pulled him backway, like turn him towards them and then the guy shot him and he fell, then he shot him again, then the person run back and then I hurry call the police and the police came and took him to the hospital."
Monica Bodden
"You didn't see the gunman. We are getting that on the record. You just saw him from all the way up the street?"
Voice of Friend
"Yes ma'am. I didn't see his face or anything, because it was really dark and the person was dark skin and he had on full black, so I couldn't see him. The only reason I knew it was Reuben is because I was watching him from a long distance and I didn't take my eyes off him and he had on white."
Monica Bodden
"This was around what time?"
Voice of Friend
"Around 10pm."
Monica Bodden
"How is he doing at this time? To what part of his body was he shot?"
Voice of Friend
"He got shot to the middle of his forehead and on his right leg."
Monica Bodden
"At this point I could only imagine how traumatized you are."
Voice of Friend
"Yes ma'am. Every time I closed my eyes I remember and I see it over and over again."
And while family and friends are not giving up on hope for 16 year old Ruben Leslie, the same goes for those closes to 15 year old Tyrique Thompson - the second form student of Canaan High School. Thompson was shot in the head on Monday night on Lake View Street and is tonight in a coma fighting for his life. 7news spoke to his homeroom teacher Maybelline Campos who told us they are praying for Tyrique's recovery.
Monica Bodden
"Tyrique is fighting for his life at the KHMH. Do you have any words of encouragement for his family and also his classmates that are feeling this?"
Maybelline Campus - Homeroom Teacher
"I just like to tell his mom that I am a mom too, so I know something like that would hurt you deeply. When I got the news this morning I remember vividly seeing his yesterday come in to pick up his report card and only to get this happen to him now really touched me. I just put myself in her place and imagined the pain that she must be going through, but I just want to encourage her with God's words that he said that he would not give you more than you can bare and he knows best and to hold on and have faith. I am going to pray for him and continue to pray for him, because I know that God will never leave his children."
Monica Bodden
"Talk to us about Tyrique, what kind of young man he is?"
Maybelline Campus - Homeroom Teacher
"Tyrique is a very sweet young man. I've never had any disciplinary problems with Tyrique. For say, having to take him to the office for fights or disrespect or things like that. I would talked to him about several little things, maybe probably his shirt or something like that. But Tyrique, he would listen, he was a very playful person. He didn't show any signs of gang relation or anything like that. To me Tyrique was very playful, joyful and carefree. Nothing bothered him. He was not the type that - even though I have students in my class that tells me they are affiliated with this or that - Tyrique has never had a problem with any of those students in his class."
We will continue to follow up on the condition of both students.
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