By Vina Frederick

Is anywhere safe anymore? That’s what many are asking after several worshippers were wounded at a church on Sunday. A scary moment for St Lucians as this is not the first time news of the sort has come from a church.

No doubt as news circulated the island about Sunday’s injured churchgoers many were reminded of the Cathedral murders of 2001. But this latest incident according to reports was as a result of a police shooting which took place outside the church on Chausee Road.

By all accounts it was supposed to be a normal day of worship at the Streams of Power Tabernacle but it turned chaotic when law enforcement officers in pursuit of an allegedly armed man fired a gunshot which ricocheted and hit three worshippers—a 12-year-old girl, a 45- and 47-year-old woman. The worshippers were at the time having lunch in the church yard when the incident occurred.

Yesterday Superintendent with responsibility for the special services unit, Victor Layzell, held a press conference with media personnel to brief them on the incident.

He began: “Five officers of the special services unit were on mobile patrol in the Waterworks area when they witnessed a drug deal between three individuals. The officers dismounted the vehicle and approached the men. When the three individuals spotted the officers they ran into an alleyway. The alleyway runs alongside the Streams of Power Tabernacle. As the officers pursued the men one of the individuals carrying a black plastic bag turned towards the officers and pulled out a firearm and pointed it towards them. One of the officers who was carrying a 9mm-hand gun fired a single shot towards the assailant.”

Layzell continued: “It appeared that the assailant was moving and so the bullet did not come into contact with him. I understand that the single shot missed and struck a corrugated iron on one side of the alleyway. The single bullet fragmented as it entered that corrugated iron and it would appear that the fragments of that bullet went into the churchyard. There were some persons having lunch and three of them got struck by some of these fragments. They were taken to Victoria Hospital where they received treatment and were released. Also there were two women who were taken to hospital as a result of suffering from trauma. They were also treated and discharged.”

The superintendent of police said the Royal St Lucia Police Force deeply regrets the injuries suffered by the individuals. Layzell said when he visited the scene he was able to satisfy himself with the fact that “the actions of the officer who made the single shot did not appear to be reckless”.

“You must bear in mind that the officer was facing someone who was pointing a firearm at him,” said Layzell. “He responded in what may have been very quick time.” One of the women, who got hit by the bullet fragment, Francilia Severin, in an interview said: “We were in the churchyard having lunch when some one shouted bullets, bullets. I heard something burst between my legs then my foot just got a shock. When I looked down I saw my foot bleeding.”

Severin was taken to Victoria Hospital where she was given medical care. According to her an x-tray was done and her doctor said that the fragment of the bullet was still in her foot but the bone was not damaged. She is scheduled to return to the hospital Thursday. “I am worried about the fragment of the bullet that is still lodged in my foot,” said Severin. “I am concerned about how it may affect my body. I thank God that I am still alive.” The three men are still at large. Police were unable to apprehend them. The RSLPF is calling on anyone with information leading into the arrest of these men to please contact the nearest police station.