American hospital after being taken off the "critical'' list.

"He is in fair condition, and much better. We are very hopeful,'' said a spokesman for the Medical College of Georgia last night.

The news comes as The Royal Gazette learned an 18-year-old -- labelled a second suspect in Monday's triple shooting -- was arrested.

Daniel Downing, of Richmond County, Augusta, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with intent to murder, according to county jail records.

A handgun, believed to be the same one used in the Fubler shooting, was recovered from Mr. Downing's trailer park home.

Meanwhile, the hunt for Mark Lorenzo Squires, the 20-year-old described as the triggerman, continued yesterday.

"We are still investigating, and haven't caught the guy,'' said a spokesman for Richmond County Sheriff's Department.

Danger man Squires faces charges of aggravated assault with intent to kill, possession of a firearm while committing a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Augusta College student Fubler -- hailed a talented soccer player -- was shot in the head by Squires, who had served a prison sentence for aggravated assault in Denver and recently transferred his parole to Georgia.

Another victim in the shooting was 20-year-old Sheila Kitchens, who has been paralysed after being shot in the neck.

Her condition at the Medical College of Georgia has improved, and was last night described as "fair''.

Ms Kitchens' 12-year-old brother, George, is being treated at Dwight D.

Eisenhower Army Medical Center. Said to have been in a coma, his condition on Wednesday was "stable, but critical''.

The triple shooting occurred at about 8.40 a.m. on Monday at Ms Kitchens' home in Pheasant Drive, Richmond County, Augusta.

Chief Deputy Ronald Strength, of Richmond County Sheriff's Department, said the incident had a "domestic'' element to it, Squires being the former boyfriend of Ms Kitchens.

Yesterday, relatives of Fubler, including his mother, Ms Eleanor Joell, were keen to scotch initial Police reports he was the new boyfriend of Ms Kitchens.

"They are just good family friends,'' a relative said, speaking from an Augusta hotel last night.

She pointed out Fubler had been looked after by the Kitchens since going to America.

Yesterday morning Ms Joell told The Royal Gazette she had looked after her son since he was a little boy.

And she said the former Police cadet happened to be "in the wrong place at the wrong time'' when the shooting took place.

Last night, Ms Joell was said to be suffering from a headache and could not come to the phone when The Royal Gazette rang the hotel.

The shooting has made big news in Augusta, no stranger to crime.

"A triple shooting? You bet we've been covering it,'' said a reporter for The Augusta Chronicle .

In yesterday's edition, the paper reported the arrest of Downing, saying it came hours after an interview with one of the three victims.

Chief Deputy Strength is quoted as saying: "We also believe Downing was shot in the wrist during the shooting.

"Fubler ran into the house and Mr. Downing grabbed Sheila and George and brought them back into the house.'' He added the gunman shot Mr. Fubler in the head and left him lying in the hallway before turning his attention to Ms Kitchens and her brother.

"We feel strongly that while Mr. Downing had his arm around Ms Kitchens' throat, the gunman fired a bullet that shot through his wrist and went into Ms Kitchens' neck.

"It entered and exited his wrist.'' According to The Augusta Chronicle , Chief Deputy Strength said Downing later went to a private doctor in Jefferson County for treatment to his wounds.

Police say Squires fled the scene in his father's car, which deputies found abandoned on Monday afternoon.

"He has very few ties in Richmond County, but has connections in Los Angeles.

He's a bad number and we're working with the FBI to find him,'' said Chief Deputy Strength.

Mr. Fubler is believed to have been at Augusta College studying physical education.

Bermuda Police spokesman P.c. Gary Venning said Mr. Fubler had joined the local Force in April 1990, working at Hamilton Police Station. He resigned in July 1991.

P.c. Venning added: "He was an active soccer player, who played in matches between various divisions within the Police.'' TALENTED SOCCER PLAYER -- Bermudian shooting victim Charles (Lyndon) Fubler.

The Augusta College student Fubler -- hailed a talented soccer player -- was shot in the head this week in Georgia.