By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN alleged to be the culprit behind a shootout that halted the early-morning “People’s Rush” Independence Day Junkanoo Parade has denied any involvement in the incident.

Rudolph Roberts, 21, of McKinney Drive, appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday facing three charges of attempted murder stemming from the shooting in downtown Nassau last Thursday.

It is alleged that he tried to murder Emile Sweeting, Rolland Cunningham and Cordero McDonald, all of whom were hospitalised with gunshot wounds.

Roberts was not required to enter a plea to the charges in yesterday’s arraignment. However, when given an opportunity by the chief magistrate to speak, he told her “when they (police) arrested me, they was questioning me for my own friends.”

“The three names you called, they are my friends. But I ended up getting charged. I never had a gun on me, all night of Independence,” he added.

He further claimed that he was with his girlfriend before he was cut off by the magistrate, who noted that she was only dealing with the arraignment and not his trial.

She informed him that at his next Magistrate’s Court appearance on September 23, he would be served with a Voluntary Bill of Indictment that would fast track his case to the Supreme Court for trial.

Roberts, who was not represented yesterday, was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison without bail.