Residents of Happy Valley Road have been left “traumatised and frightened” after the shooting on Saturday night that put a 37-year-old man in intensive care.

Police officers responded to a report of several gunshots heard in that area of Devonshire at about 10.45pm.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said last night that the victim sustained eight bullet wounds to his arm and leg. At noon today, he was in a stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Glen Smith, the MP for Devonshire North West, spent the day visiting residents yesterday after the incident.

“I have been visiting constituents who live on Happy Valley Road, including those near where the incident took place,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“Many are traumatised, worried and frightened. I wanted to offer my thoughts and prayers to those who were affected by this.

“We will be working with the Bermuda Police Service to see if anything needs to be done to improve safety in the area.”

One area resident, who wished to remain unnamed, told The Royal Gazette: “I heard several gunshots and I was terrified.

“I called 911 and told them I heard gunshots. I heard some shots, there was a break then I heard more. The police came promptly; they were here within minutes.

“I was terrified afterwards — I couldn’t sleep. I don’t feel safe at all in this area — it is too dark on Happy Valley Road. We need more street lighting and more police to be present in the area.

“It used to be a quiet, peaceful and loving area — it has changed. It is so scary.”

Jeff Baron, junior minister for National Security, said: “I trust MP Smith will bring any of the concerns from residents forward to the ministry and to his colleagues across the House of Assembly.

“I am certainly very concerned by this incident.

“There are many who daily will tell us that this is unacceptable, that this is not what they expect in their neighbourhood and their Island and we agree.

“We will continue to work with everyone in the community, with the social stakeholders, community champions and the law-enforcement community to make sure we continue our strategy to suppress violent crime and particularly gun violence.

“Our strategy is the right one and we are going to see it through.”

In a joint statement issued last night, Walter Roban, the Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, and Michael Weeks, the Opposition spokesman for community affairs, called for witnesses to come forward and assist law enforcement “in getting these shooters off our streets”.

“In what is becoming an all too frequent occurrence, another act of gun violence has tarnished the peace and tranquility of our community,” they said. “It is evident that something is deeply wrong and requires a community effort to change the mindset that believes disputes must be settled with guns.

“Our prayers are with the family and friends of the victim.”

Police are interested in speaking to anyone who saw individuals on two cycles acting suspiciously, then fleeing the area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 295-0011 or the Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.