There was a sharp spike in incidents of gun violence in the city over the weekend.  It started at 10:30 on Friday night when gunshots rang out on the third floor of a three storey apartment building at the corner of Orange and West Streets.  53-year-old Neville Thomas Jr., a retired United States soldier and self employed businessman was the victim.  He was last seen alive at 7 pm on Friday buying food at a vendor on Orange Street.  Thomas had ordered the food and was waiting for it when he was approached by an individual with whom he has had a previous disagreement with over a cell

Thomas probably thought that was the end of it, but it wasn't.  He returned to his apartment on the third floor to enjoy his food and a short while later neighbours say they heard someone knock on Thomas' doors.  Two men were at the door and a brief exchange of words was followed by gunshots.  His neighbours who huddled in their apartments counted three blood curdling gunshots.  Believing the coast was clear, his neighbours ran out and peered into his apartment from a back window and that is when they came across the gory scene of Thomas lying stretched out on the floor of his apartment.  He was motionless.  Neighbours are shocked that the man everyone knew as “Tete” had been killed, apparently over a cell phone. 

Two shootings followed the Friday night murder of Neville Thomas in the same general area but it is unclear if they are related.  On Sunday morning at 8:30, a group of about 30 young men waiting to play basketball on the Euphrates Avenue Basketball Court came under fire when a gunman started shooting indiscriminately.  Among the injured was Gavin Zuniga who was shot twice in the back. He survived.  The third shooting incident occurred less than 24 hours later on Glenn Street where 14-year-old primary school student was sleeping when armed men invaded the house and opened fire.  Middleton was shot twice in the foot and a bullet also grazed his thirteen year old brother's hand.  Police are investigating all of the incidents.