Three shots were fired on Court Street in broad daylight yesterday — just hours after one man was shot dead and another injured in two separate shooting incidents.

And Troy "Yankee" Rawlins, who was on his way to Magistrates' Court for a drug trial hearing, believes he was the intended target.

No one was injured. A suspect has since been arrested.

Police were called to Court Street at 10 a.m. after shots were fired outside C&R Discount, at the junction of Court and Elliot streets. It was the same shop where two people were injured when a gunman ran in and started firing in May.

At 11 a.m. Rawlins appeared for trial at Magistrates' Court in relation to drug possession charges he is facing. Crown counsel Cindy Clarke and Rawlins' lawyer Charles Richardson asked Magistrate Juan Wolffe if they could speak to him in chambers.

Rawlins, visibly shaken with tears in his eyes, turned to a friend and said: "They came around the corner and started shooting at me. They were shooting at anyone."

He went on to complain about the youth of today.

When the lawyers returned the case was adjourned.

Raymond Burgess was in C&R Discount where he watched as Police swarmed the area after yesterday's shooting.

A bullet hit Mr. Burgess in the leg in May after a gunman burst into his store and opened fire. His 31-year-old son was shot in the arm during the attack.

Yesterday, the 68-year-old said he didn't see the latest shooting, which happened on his doorstep.

"I heard one gun shot," the shopkeeper said. "The stores on Court Street are now closed and Police are everywhere."

He said Police had not been on Court Street prior to the shootings.

Asked if he was concerned for his safety, he said: "You can't predict the future, anything can happen."

Gavin Smith, of Chewstick, was in the charity's North Hamilton building at the time of the shooting.

He too heard the gunfire.

"I thought I heard two [shots], then it was a clear 'pop'," he said. "At first, I thought it wasn't what we think it was. The guy walked across the shop and ran the other way with the gun out."

A witness who didn't want to be named also said he saw the gunman.

"I heard two — what I distinctly know to be gun shots. About a minute or so later I saw a young person, I would say they were about 5ft 3 ins, 5ft 4 ins tops, running down the street. He definitely had the gun drawn. His hands were in the position. He had on, I believe, dark pants, a dark mask covering his nose and mouth. I didn't see anything else.

"I am a concerned business person. There's a continued effort to bring commerce and entrepreneurship, and whenever we have drive-bys with weaponry it restricts and hurts the area."

Acting Chief Inspector Calvin Smith said: "This morning we heard gun shots. No one was injured as a result. We don't know how many shots were fired but there were at least three."

He said a man was involved in a Police chase around the same time. "At this stage it's an unrelated matter but he was arrested at Parsons Road."

He continued: "We have put on additional resources — and once again we say that we need the public support. If you know anything, let us know. Of late, we have had some good success and that came from people assisting the Police. If you tell us, we're going to go and do it."

l Further reports – Pages 8, 9, 10 & 11