Keon Francis, a.k.a “Baba,” 19, and Kareem Lopez, a.k.a “Robbery,” 24, were shot near Lopez’s home on Nurse Findley Crescent at around 7 p.m. yesterday. In excess of 20 bullets were fired at the duo; fortunately for both men, they have survived the attack.
Lopez’s family and residents of Fabers Road chose not to speak to Amandala about the incident. Police however, have said that according to their initial investigations, Lopez and Francis were coming from the basketball court at the Excelsior High School when two men exited a yard on Nurse Findley Crescent.
Police say that the men were both armed with guns, and they opened fire on the men, who had decided to sit inside a Geo Prism car parked on the side of the street next to Lopez’s home. After a barrage of more than 20 bullets, the men fled.
Lopez was shot in the left side of the chest, left arm, right arm, abdomen and right leg; Francis was shot in the left upper arm and left rib cage area.
Both men were rushed to the hospital, where Francis is listed as stable; Lopez remains in a critical condition.
Reliable reports to us are that the shooting happened while children were at the intersection of Fabers Road and Nurse Findley Crescent. Police say that they haven’t established the motive for the shooting, but both Lopez and Francis are known to them.
Lopez was charged for the murder of Mark Gardiner, who was gunned down in broad daylight on the morning of October 5, 2006, while riding his bicycle on East Canal. Lopez was acquitted of that charge on February 16, 2010.
Francis was one of four charged for the robbery of K.K Grocery, which occurred on April 8, 2010. According to the court details, Francis and three others stormed into the store, which is located at the corner of Sanker and Gill Streets. One of the men, armed with a handgun, robbed the store owner of $7,000 and a necklace.