Marigot:--- The Gendarmes are in high gear as they investigate the shooting that left one person dead and seven injured at the Cul de Sac Bay on Sunday afternoon where the annual Fish Day event was taking place.
Captain of the Gendarmerie Sylvain Jouault told SMN News on Monday afternoon that no one was arrested in the shootout but the gendarmes heard one person as a witness. Jouault said he wants to make clear that no one was arrested as it has been circulating on Blackberry messages. "One person was heard but we cannot release the details on what was said and who we heard as a witness." Jouault further explained that one person was shot to death in the shootout while seven persons were injured, of the seven injured one of the victims were air evacuated to Guadeloupe for further medical treatment while the other six persons are currently receiving treatment at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital in Marigot. Dead is 20 year old Johanthan Freedom from French St. Martin.
SMN News learnt that the person that opened fire at the Cul de Sac Bay was after another youngster known in the Concordia area as Jamal. A source who was at the Cul de Sac Bay said that Jamal ran for his life when he saw the gunman whom he knew was after him. It is further understood that the shooting sparked from two gangs that reside in the Concordia area. Sunday's shooting has sent shock waves throughout the community of St. Martin/St. Maarten leaving many persons in fear. Some persons who would normally attend the annual event said that the event pulls people from all over and they believe that tighter security measures ought to be in place when such huge events are held.
