The police’s investigation of a shooting incident believed to be due to a feud between two rival street gangs has resulted in the arrest of Errol Haynes, 22, a construction worker of #5912 Third Street, Buttonwood Bay.
Haynes appeared yesterday in the #2 Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate Mrs. Dorothy Flowers, and was arraigned on charges of attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm. No plea was taken from him because the offences are indictable, which means that he will go on trial in the Supreme Court after a prima facie case has been established in a preliminary investigation.
Flowers explained to Haynes that because of the offences he is charged with, the law does not allow her to grant him bail. She advised him that he could, however, have an attorney apply to the Supreme Court for bail after 7 days. She remanded Haynes into custody until February 5.
The shooting occurred about 8:00 a.m. on Friday, December 29, 2006.
An eyewitness reported to police that he was at the corner of Dean Street and George Street near a bicycle shop buying fruit from Nicaraguan vendor Carlos Barrera, 21, when a gray Maxima 4-door car came speeding on Dean Street from the direction of West Canal Street.
According to the eyewitness, a passenger in the car, whom he identified as Haynes, pulled out a pistol and began firing in his direction, but the bullets missed him.
Barrera, however, was not so fortunate. Neither were Gerald “Shiny” Tillett and his brother, Troy Tillett.
Barrera was shot in his chest and the back of his head. He fell to the ground and was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where surgery was performed. He is reported to be in critical but stable condition.
Gerald was shot in the left side of the neck and Troy was shot in the arm and back. They were both admitted to ward at KHMH, but were discharged soon after.
The police say they believe that the gunman’s targets were the eyewitness and the Tillett brothers, and that Barrera was just an innocent bystander.
Haynes was, however, only charged in connection with Barrera’s shooting.
Haynes previously was charged with the murder of Delrick Sankey who was shot and killed early in 2005. The charge was later withdrawn.