Stray bullets leave teen, man critical

A PETIT Valley teenager was shot twice in the head and his driving instructor in the right eye as they drove along the Western Main Road near the Cocorite walkover shortly after 8.40 am yesterday.

Western Division police believe the two were shot by a lone gunman, who was seen firing shots at another man. It is believed that Stephen Andrew Felix Gonzales, 17, was hit by two stray bullets and his instructor by another.

Drivers who witnessed the incident rushed to safety and called St James police. Led by Sgt Turner, they cordoned off the area and began searching for the gunman,but he escaped. However investigators were hoping to secure CCTV footage from businesses in the area to identify him.

Gonzales hired Naresh Harrilal, 50, of Cunupia, the owner of Harrilal’s Driving School. He met Harrilal early yesterday close to the National Stadium and sat in the driver's seat of Harrilal’s gold Almera for his lesson.

Reports are that Gonzales and Harrilal were struck by bullets as Gonzales drove slowly along the Western Main Road near the Cocorite walkover.

Eyewitnesses told police they saw the gunman chasing a man dressed in black pants and white jersey. When they discovered the teenager and Harrilal had been shot, they called the police and the injured men were taken to the St James Infirmary.

Harrilal was able to identify himself but Gonzales was in and out of consciousness. Doctors described his condition as critical and wee guarded with relatives about his prognosis. Harrilal, who was also transferred to the Port of Spain General Hospital yesterday, was in a lot of pain and unable to give police investigators any useful information.

However Western Division police told Newsday they are working on key information which could lead to an arrest.

Yesterday Gonzales was still at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the PoSGH. Relatives were told he may be transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

They were almost too distraught to speak but said he was eager to learn to drive and they never expected this.

Police interviewed three eyewitnesses yesterday and investigations are continuing. A manhunt was launched for the gunman in the Cocorite area.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith was informed of the two shootings and began liaising with investigators. Contacted yesterday, he said the matter was being thoroughly investigated.