Victims caught in middle of early morning shooting

Kelrina James of Carriere and Kwjauna Hoyte of Redemption Sharpes are both counting their blessings after being caught in the middle of last Sunday’s deadly gunfire.{{more}}

When SEARCHLIGHT visited the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital late Monday afternoon, both victims were recovering from their respective medical procedures.

James received a gunshot wound to the right knee, while Hoyte was shot in the stomach.

Both were in the area when gunmen opened fire on Colville ‘Spannie’ Millington.

Hoyte said that she was leaving a nightclub in the area and was about to enter a vehicle which was parked in the vicinity where the shooting took place.

The young woman said that her back was turned when the shooting began.

While making an attempt to get into the vehicle, she said she felt a pain in her stomach.

“I felt something like blood and looked down to see that I was shot,” Hoyte recalled.

According to Hoyte, the bullet entered and exited her torso.

James was also unfortunate in being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

He said that he arrived in the area shortly after 2 that morning and was standing in the area accompanied by two friends when the shooting started.

James told SEARCHLIGHT that he started running when he felt the bullet enter his knee.

He said that he fell, but was able to get up and continued running for cover.

“I didn’t feel no pain,” he said. “I felt like something move through me foot fast.”

James and Hoyte said that they are both happy to be alive as they looked back at what they say could have been more tragic.

“I thank God for giving me a second chance because it could have been a lot worse,” Hoyte said.

She followed up by saying that it was quite an experience for her, given that she was in no way connected to the incident. (DD)