Two men were shot in the Rubbertree area of Middletown last night leaving one man in a critical condition at the hospital.

About six shots were fired around 6 p.m. with Police coming to the scene moments later and cordoning off the area.

The junction of King Street and Elliott Street was blocked off to the public by armed Police.

More than a dozen officers were on the scene, armed and unarmed, and only allowed those living in the area access to the street.

This newspaper understands one man was shot in the arm and the hand while the other victim was shot at least three times in the chest and has internal injuries.

It is the second shooting in the past week where victims were wounded.

Last Saturday, Jah-Lario Samuels-Dill was shot just after 4 p.m. in his upper torso near Yardie Kitchen on Glebe Road, Pembroke.

He ran into a nearby home immediately after shouting, "help me, I've been shot" before collapsing on the floor.

He was then rushed to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and was released Sunday evening.

A 20-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were arrested in connect with the shooting.

A man who lives in the neighbourhood heard the shots and said: "I heard about five or six shots about half an hour ago. First you heard two, then three shots went off. You hear it all hours of the night."

Asked if he still felt safe, the man said: "Yea. They know who they're going after. It's a gang thing. It's going to get worse. They know it's black on black. They're making it harder for everyone else. You can't sleep in peace."

Meanwhile, the hospital was locked down with Police barricading both entrances. Small groups of people clustered outside but weren't allowed in the building.

A Police spokesman issued the following statement: "Around 6 p.m. Police responded to a report of gunshots in the area of King Street and Middletown Lane in Pembroke. As a result, a 24-year-old Pembroke man and a 31-year-old Devonshire man are being treated at KEMH for gunshot wounds.

"Inquiries into this incident are underway. Police are appealing for any witnesses to this incident or anyone with any information to contact Acting Chief Inspector Calvin Smith at the Serious Crime Unit on 295-0011.

We are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have been in the King Street/Middletown Lane area between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday and saw anyone acting suspiciously.

"Alternatively, anyone with any information can call the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477 or submit an anonymous tip via the Crime Stoppers Bermuda website www.crimestoppers.bm."

This shooting was at least the fourth outbreak of gun violence in recent months in the area, which is plagued by gangs.

Kenwandee Robinson, aged 27, was killed in a drive-by shooting on St. Monica's Road on the afternoon of May 22 and 24-year-old Michael Adams was badly injured.

That shooting also happened in the afternoon and was followed by more gunshots minutes later in Rambling Lane and Curving Avenue.

Another shooting happened the next morning on Court Street leaving three people injured.

Gunshots also rang out on St. Monica's Road in the early hours one February morning.

l Police officers responded to reports of gunfire in north Devonshire yesterday, but found no evidence to back up the reports.

Officers combed the North Shore Road/ Railway Trail following the 8 a.m. report, the third report of gunfire in less than a week.