Two Women Shot Near Berger Field

Two women were shot on Vernon Street around 6:30 PM on Tuesday evening. Police report that forty-year-old Stephanie James and fifty-five-year-old Maria Cruz were walking with a man they knew when another man suddenly pulled out a gun and started shooting at them. However, James told us she had just closed the snack shop she cleans and was waiting for her two sons, while Cruz was simply passing by when they were shot. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with James and filed this report.

 

Voice of: Stephanie James, Shooting Victim

“When I see he pull out the gun, I could tell yoh, I hear at least about five or six shots first. Then after that, when I run, he continue open up more fire. He continue shoot.”

 

Marion Ali

“You realize you were hit…”

 

Voice of: Stephanie James

“From the first shot I get, I realized I was hit.”

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

At around 6:30 PM on Tuesday evening, two women were shot on Vernon Street. One of the victims, Stephanie James, shared her story with News Five.

 

Voice of: Stephanie James

“I deh right deh soh di talk to two ah my friend deh, just done lock up the shop  and when I look, wa gunman just open fire. Eena the midst ah me di try fi run da then I get hit. But my thing is why Berger Field? Dehn di try fi she Ghost Town deh deh but at the end of the day, dehn can’t she Ghost Town di give no trouble. And ComPol know this, Ghost Town nuh di give no trouble. Da one set ah people di give trouble.”

 

James was hit by three bullets in her right arm, but fortunately, none of the wounds were serious. She was treated and released from KHMH. The incident has left her and her family feeling uneasy, and now she can’t let her sons play ball on the field.

 

Voice of: Stephanie James

“There is our go-to  spot my son they play football. A lotta people always deh pon the field da night, and yes we do have police presence in the area, but it’s not like – dehn know weh the trouble di come from. They nuh target dehn people and they not stop and mek sure dehn people nuh di exit their community. Someone could have lost their life the way that young man came and opened fire. Like he literally didn’t care. He didn’t care who got hit. He didn’t care if it was – kids, who are always out there most of the time, he didn’t care if it was a female like me, he didn’t care if it was someone elderly like the lady.  He didn’t care.”

 

Despite her concerns for her children’s safety, James says the incident won’t dampen her spirits.

 

Voice of: Stephanie James

“ To be honest, Marion, they can stop my good heart, but  I just wa be more alert. I just nuh wa have my kids pon the field. Ih just so sad because I just di deprive dehn ah deh fun, but we just have to be more careful out deh.”

 

Cruz was shot in the ankle and is still in the hospital. James hopes this incident will lead to increased police presence in the area. Marion Ali for News Five.