Construction workers shot at Cornwall Regional Hospital

A dramatic shooting which took place yesterday morning between construction workers at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St James, ended with two workers being shot and injured, while another is now on the run.

The police say the victims are two construction workers of Kingston addresses. Both persons are said to be at the hospital in serious condition.

"Mi seh, you woulda think a western movie wi inna," one construction worker at the Cornwall Regional Hospital told THE STAR.

"All a wi frighten, and haffi run fi wi life. The man just tell the man fi be careful wid the concrete bucket and the supervisor foot, and a pure bad word him start cuss. When him run off, all a wi did tek him light. But the boy heavy because when him come back, all a wi haffi scatter fi wi life. When we see the man come back with the gun and start put it pon the man, you woulda swear seh a wild wild west."

Reports from the police are that about 11:30 a.m., the construction workers, who are employed to a company carrying out repairs at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, were working in the vicinity of the nurses quarters when they got involved in a dispute.

Cautioned the accused

It is said that a bucket hauling concrete to the roof got loose and almost injured the supervisor. THE STAR understands that the 36-year-old victim cautioned the accused over the handling of the bucket.

After being spoken to, it is said that the man got into a rage and ran from the compound of the hospital to a section of the Mount Salem community.

He later returned with a handgun and opened fire hitting the other man seven times to his upper body. The other 24-year-old construction worker, who was in the vicinity, also received gunshot wounds.

The man then ran from the site.

Both injured men were carried to the emergency unit at the CRH where they were treated and admitted in serious condition.