A young couple gunned down outside Southside Cinema on Friday evening were last night still in intensive care — with two men in police custody over the suspected gang-related shooting.

Shaki Minors, 26, and Renee Kuchler, 24, were getting into a car at about 11.20 p.m. when shots were fired in their direction.

Crowds of cinema-goers were still in the area, according to witnesses, and many rushed back into the St. David's movie theatre after hearing the shots ring out and seeing Mr. Minors lying on the ground soaked in blood.

Mr. Minors, who plays for Devonshire Cougars football team, and CedarBridge Academy teacher Ms Kuchler sustained gunshot wounds not thought to be life threatening.

They were both in a stable condition at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital late last night. Their families did not wish to comment on the attack.

Police arrested a 28-year-old Pembroke man and an 18-year-old Devonshire man in connection with the shooting and a possible firearm was seized.

Acting Chief Inspector Michael Redfern, from the Serious Crime Unit, told The Royal Gazette that forensics officers had been flown in from the US to help with the investigation.

He said three detective sergeants and 14 detectives were working on the case and that the police presence in the central areas of the Island had been stepped up, with four armed response vehicles on patrol.

The shooting — the third incidence of gun violence in a fortnight — sparked outrage in the community over the weekend, with politicians and the Governor urging the public to help the Police.

St. David's MP Lovitta Foggo said: "This heinous, malicious, and, in my opinion, cowardly act could well have resulted in greater numbers being injured and even killed given the location. Such an act of violence necessitates and demands the collective efforts of the community and the Police to work tirelessly to quell this type of criminal activity."

Sports and Youth Minister Glenn Blakeney added: "My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victims who suffered these heinous injuries.

"Whoever may be brought to justice, I hope the culprits are subjected to the full force of the law and are made accountable for this reprehensible act."

Southside Cinema employee Tracy Lambert told this newspaper that the attack happened after a late showing of 'Precious', an emotionally charged film about an abused young girl.

She said a sombre crowd of about 140 was leaving to go home when they heard five loud shots ring through the air.

"I didn't think it was gun shots, I thought it was a car backfiring," said Ms Lambert. "I saw everyone run into the movie theatre saying 'someone's been shot' so I took a look outside and I noticed a guy on the ground.

"He wasn't moving, his whole body was full of blood, his head, his arm, his shirt was full of blood and a little on his pants."

Ms Lambert called police and, along with another good Samaritan, found towels to stop the bleeding. "I asked the guy 'can he hear me and can he open his eyes?'," she said.

"He opened his eyes and a man with me asked where did he get shot to. He replied in his arm and his stomach."

She said nobody noticed the girl in the car until someone screamed that she also been shot. "I was inside trying to find towels for the young man and never got to see who the girl was," said Ms Lambert.

"I realised later [after] I left that night, she is a friend of mine. I remember her walking in with him and I served them. I hope both pull through and hope someone saw the face of the gun man."

Another cinema-goer, H.T. Marshall, e-mailed The Royal Gazette to say: "We came out of the theatre, got into the car, put the windows down and then heard 'POW, POW, POW, POW!'.

"We looked at each other kind of confused as to what the noise could have been, but then people were screaming and ducking and running, some dropped their belongings and ran back into the theatre."

The witness wrote that they assumed it was a prank, such as youths letting off firecrackers, and left the scene. "About half an hour later, a friend of mine called and told me that it was in fact a shooting."

Devonshire Cougars went ahead with a match against PHC yesterday afternoon. Devonshire Recreational Club president Craig Clarke said: "Devonshire Rec does send out their love to the families of Shaki Minors and his lady friend. It is a tragic situation and we do feel for the families.

"The senseless violence in this country has to stop and somebody has to say, enough's enough, and we are going to have to take some measures to combat this and understand what the problems on the street [are and] why these people are doing these types of things.

"At the end of the day it makes no sense, this is senseless shooting, and it's got to stop. We've got to mature and grow up and realise that we are killing one another. It seems like every weekend we are having a shooting."

Southside Cinema owner Alden Ray said his thoughts were with the families of both victims. "The management of Southside Cinema definitely hopes for a speedy recovery for both parties," he said.

Acting Chief Insp. Redfern said Police were doing their best to investigate the shooting but needed the public to come forward.

"We can't police on our own," he said. "We can't be everywhere 24/7 and so this is where the public comes in. These shootings seem to be getting more brazen and so we are asking the public for their support to stop this trend.

"Every weekend for the last few weeks there has been a shooting. Some officers here haven't had a day off. We are limited in our manpower and resources. But there are a lot of witnesses in the community who know what's happened and who won't come forward."

Anyone with information should contact Acting Chief Insp. Redfern on 295-0011, call the confidential Crime Stoppers hot line on 800-8477 or submit an anonymous tip on the www.crimestoppers.bm website.