By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

SEVEN men are fighting for their lives in hospital after being shot in two separate incidents in New Providence on Thursday night. The Tribune understands all of the men have a criminal history and are “very well known to police.”

The first shooting took place shortly after 8pm in Nassau Village. According to reports, a group of men were standing in a yard on Price Street, when a man armed with a handgun approached and fired at them before fleeing the area on foot.

Four of the men were shot and taken to hospital, where they are listed in serious but stable condition.

A few hours later, around 11pm, three men were sitting in a yard on Key West Street and Robinson Road when a man armed with a handgun approached and fired several shots at them before fleeing on foot.

Three of the men were shot and taken to hospital, where they are also listed in serious but stable condition.

Officer in Charge of the Central Detective Unit, Paul Rolle said police do not believe the shootings were connected but they are following leads in both matters.

He said: “We do not have the information that they were connected. We are following significant leads in the Key West Street shooting but with the other one, the victims claim not to know who the guy is that shot them.”

Sources close to the matter say the Key West Street shooting was a result of a turf war in the area; however Mr Rolle said officers have not received that information.

This latest shooting incident comes two days after Minister of National Security, Dr Bernard Nottage said “significant crime” was down in New Providence.

Dr Nottage said all categories of major crimes in New Providence, with the exception of attempted murder and manslaughter, are down.