Gunfire erupts in Sophia, two men hospitalised

Two men were injured during a late-night shooting in Sophia, Georgetown, that has left residents rattled and police hunting for armed suspects.

The victims have been identified as 34-year-old Andra Stewart, an unemployed resident of Guyhoc Park and Fifth Street, Alberttown, and 22-year-old Lidj Grant, a construction worker from ‘A’ Field, Sophia. The shooting occurred at approximately 21:45hrs on Tuesday night, 20th May, near the Mercy Wing Vocational Centre in ‘A’ Field, Sophia.

According to police reports, Stewart and Grant were travelling on separate motorcycles, heading north through the community, when two masked men, clad in dark clothing and riding a motorcycle of unknown registration, approached them and opened fire.

In an attempt to escape the hail of bullets, the victims reportedly jumped from their bikes and sought cover behind a parked truck along the street’s parapet. The attackers continued firing before fleeing the scene on their motorcycle.

Both Stewart and Grant sustained gunshot wounds—Stewart to the right side of his lower back, and Grant to the upper right side of his back. Quick-thinking passers-by assisted the wounded men and transported them to a city hospital, where they were treated and admitted. Medical personnel have since confirmed that both victims are in stable condition.

Police ranks from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters responded to the incident at around 22:00hrs and cordoned off the area. Crime scene investigators recovered fifteen spent 9mm shells from the scene.

In a key development, CCTV footage from the area has revealed that the incident involved an exchange of gunfire between the suspects and the victims—prompting investigators to conduct gunpowder residue tests on Stewart and Grant’s hands. Their role in the shootout remains under scrutiny.

Several residents in the vicinity have been questioned, but the identities and whereabouts of the shooters remain unknown. Police have confirmed that efforts to track down the suspects are ongoing.