Third Woman Shot in Punta Gorda

Joseph Myvett

Two Punta Gorda residents have been arrested and charged for a shooting in that southern municipality in which a third woman was injured over the weekend. Police believe that on Friday night Andel Avilez and Luis Barrias shot twenty-three-year-old Renita Jackson to the hip as they targeted one of the two persons she was with at the corner of Far West and Church Streets in P.G.  Jackson was along with her common-law husband and another man when they were approached by two gunmen who concealed their faces with rags.  While the barrage of bullets missed its target, Jackson was hit in the hip and remains in a stable condition at the P.G. Polyclinic. ACP Joseph Myvett gave the media an update.

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“Renita Jackson along with two other persons were standing at the street corner shortly before nine p.m. when they were approached by two male persons riding on separate bicycles who fired several shots in their direction, one of which caught Miss Jackson in her right hip. Police have since conducted an investigation and have since arrested and charged Andel Avilez, twenty-three-year-old laborer of Punta Gorda Town and Luis Barrias, eighteen-year-old laborer of Punta Gorda Town for two counts of attempted murder, two counts of use of deadly means of harm and one count of wounding. So far the weapons used have not been recovered.”

Reporter

“Was Renita the intended target?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“We do not know as there were two other individuals along with her.”

Reporter

“Any of those individuals known to police?”

ACP Joseph Myvett

“Yes.”