Hospital on lockdown following mass shooting

(CMR) With a second mass shooting occurring exactly one week after multiple people were shot in George Town, the Health Services Authority has advised staff of another partial lockdown at the hospital.

The HSA has been forced to implement similar safety measures to those taken last week following the shooting of six people, one fatally, early this morning at a bar in George Town. HSA advised its employees that they will only be able to gain access to the facility using the main entrance. All other doors will be locked.

A message sent to employees states that for the safety of everyone, “effective immediately all staff and visitors must enter through the main doors at the front of the hospital.” Staff members will need to present their HSA IDs, with no exceptions to be made, the message said.

The safety measures were implemented to reduce chaos at the facility as multiple people try to get access to the hospital to get information on their loved ones who were injured during the mass shooting at Vic's Bar.

The RCIPS reports are that just after 1:45 am today, police and other emergency services were dispatched to a report of a shooting incident that took place at Vic's Bar on Seymour Drive, George Town.  It was reported that multiple persons at the location received gunshot wounds, five persons were transported to the hospital for treatment, one of whom is believed to be in critical condition, and the others are believed to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries. A sixth person was fatally shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.

As a result of the investigation being carried out, Seymour Road in George Town has been partially closed to the public. Traffic is being diverted through Commercial Avenue at this time, and the public is being asked to avoid the closed area of Seymour Road until the crime scene investigation is complete and the road is re-opened.

The matter is under investigation, and a Major Incident Room has been opened for this incident. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the RCIPS Major Incident Room at 649-2930.

“Additional officers have been called out to assist with this investigation, and we are working as quickly as we can to gather all evidence from the scene,” says Deputy Commissioner Kurt Walton. “We are asking for everyone’s support and cooperation during this process. The public’s safety is our priority, and we won’t leave any stone unturned in our investigative efforts.”