Teen gun victim Michéla Outerbridge has been told by doctors that it would be too dangerous to remove a bullet lodged in her lower arm.

The 17-year-old was gunned down outside Western Stars Sports Club in Pembroke on Sunday night and was rushed by a friend to the emergency room at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Police said yesterday they believe the drive-by shooters — who were initially described as firing “indiscriminately” at the St. John’s Road venue — were targeting somebody else when they hit Michéla and 39-year-old truck driver Antoine Tuzo.

Michéla’s mother LaVonne Ball told The Royal Gazette she was shot three times — between the wrist and elbow of her right arm, across her stomach and in her upper left arm. The latter bullet also grazed her chest.

She said doctors had decided that the bullet still in Michéla’s right arm would have to stay put.

“They say they could do more damage because of the nerves,” said Ms Ball. “They don’t really know where it’s located. It kind of made sense. They could go in and try and take it out but they could go in and hit a nerve and end up paralysing her.”

She said her daughter was already recovering well from the attack and was never in a critical condition or in intensive care, contrary to a report released by Police to the media on Monday.

“We never thought we were going to lose her,” she said. “The only concern they had was her heart because her heart rate was too high.

“She was in emergency for 24 hours.”

The teenager’s family said she was now walking around, receiving lots of visitors at the hospital and was absolutely determined to graduate from CedarBridge Academy this summer.

The youngster, who turns 18 in August, is president of a girls’ support club at the senior school, as well as public relations officer for the student government. She is also taking part in the Mirrors programme.

“She plans to go to Bermuda College for two years and then she wants to go to the UK to do law,” said Ms Ball. “She’s always said that.”

Michéla’s brother Sergio Lottimore said: “As much as we want our anger to get across, we want the positive parts — that Kayla is OK and still has a bright future ahead of her — to shine through.”

The 25-year-old described his sister’s attackers — who struck as she enjoyed a party to celebrate Dandy Town football club’s Premier Division win — as cowardly but said the whole community needed to help them.

“Why [do] I believe these gunmen are acting in a cowardly manner? It stems from their lack of remorse for shooting an innocent child.

“It’s because they lurk in the cover of darkness or even shoot and kill a man — guilty or not — in front of his children. It’s because they hang in groups because they cannot stand on their own.

“It’s because of their reckless use of weapons and lack of respect for our community. We cannot continue to allow their actions to continue unabated.”

He added: “I’ll reiterate Kayla’s positive words: ‘Pray for them.’ Help them do something positive with their life, instead of allowing them to diminish the quality of life for everyone on our Island.”

Ms Ball said she was devastated by the attack and could hardly put into words her feelings about the shooters. “Where are these people’s minds? Easter is an occasion when most families come together.”

Michéla’s sisters Shakia Hayward, 25, and Deleon Lottimore, 24, said they were deeply grateful she was alive after what could have been a fatal attack.

Ms Lottimore said: “To be shot three times and she’s up and walking and talking and she’s in good spirits — it’s incredible. If it wasn’t her, it could have been someone else and that person might not have been so lucky.”

Ms Hayward added: “It has to stop, the violence.”

Police have yet to arrest anyone in connection with the Western Stars double shooting, which happened just before midnight. Superintendent Antoine Daniels told a press conference yesterday that the gunmen, on a bike, shot from between 20 and 30 metres away.

He said Police had regular patrols checking the club that night because of the Dandy Town party.

Father-of-one Mr. Tuzo, who was shot in the right arm, was still stable on a general ward at KEMH yesterday.

l Anyone with information about the incident should call Police on 299-8115 or the independent 24-hour confidential Crime Stoppers Bermuda hot line on 800-8477.