By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

SEVEN people are in hospital after rival gangs opened fire at an Emancipation Day celebration.

The three women and four men were shot during a festival at Union Village off Wulff Road around 11.30pm Monday.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony 
Ferguson said police have no one in custody for the shooting and is asking members of the public for their assistance in locating the persons responsible.

“Of the seven people injured, two were young persons, a 17-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy,” he said.

“Additional information that we are working with suggests that there was an altercation between two groups of young men when the shooting took place. However, we are encouraged by members of the public who have given us information that we are able to work with and we continue to encourage members of the public to provide us with any additional information that they may have that would assist in those investigations in bringing in those persons who are responsible for this serious attack.”

ACP Ferguson also refuted claims that officers left the celebration early, leaving it vulnerable to criminal activity.

“A team of senior officers along with other rank and file officers were in attendance at this event from the start to finish,” he said. “The areas where this thing took place is a challenge in the night time, but I will say that officers were there from start to finish.”

ACP Ferguson said police are investigating two other Emancipation Day attacks, this time on RM Bailey Park on Robinson Road.

The first incident occurred around 12.33am and resulted in a 36-year-old male being stabbed in his abdomen.

Police say he was at a celebration on the park when he was attacked by a group of men and stabbed in the abdomen by an unknown man. The victim was taken to hospital by a private vehicle where he is listed in serious condition.

About half an hour later, around 1am, police say a 41-year-old man was stabbed in his forehead.

The victim was in the western area of the park when he was attacked by three men and stabbed in his head.

He was taken to hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

ACP Ferguson said police will not tolerate this kind of behaviour at public events.

“It is unfortunate,” he said, “that we still have some young persons in our community who would attend functions where decent persons are and their sole purpose is to create fear. I just want to say that this will not be allowed as we will not sit by and let criminals disrupt family settings.”