Tension ran high in Eastleigh on Tuesday, April 15, after a gunman opened fire outside Yare Towers.
In a video widely circulated on social media, the gunman was initially seen engaged in a heated verbal exchange with members of the public while talking on his phone.
During the confrontation, a bystander could be heard daring the man to draw his weapon.
The situation quickly escalated when the man stepped back, pulled out a pistol from his waistband, cocked it, and fired a shot while hanging from the driver’s side of his vehicle.
He then discharged two more rounds before getting into his car and fleeing the scene.
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In the aftermath of the shooting, it was discovered that a stray bullet had struck a mobile phone on display at a nearby shop.
Additionally, the incident caused additional damage, although the exact value remains undetermined.
Officers from the Eastleigh North Police Station have since launched an investigation into the matter.
It is yet to be established whether the gunman is a private firearm holder or a police officer.
To legally own a firearm, an individual must apply through the Chief Licensing Officer, obtain and submit application forms from the firearms office, and provide a Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The applicant must also pay an application fee and undergo vetting by both the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Firearms Licensing Board (FLB).
Final approval is granted by the Inspector General of Police after which the FLB issues a firearm license which must be renewed annually.
Applications may be rejected if the applicant is deemed mentally unstable, has a temperamental disposition, or is incapable of safely handling or storing a firearm.
Licensed firearm holders are permitted to use their firearms for self-defense or for protecting their property against unlawful intrusion or theft.
However, the use of firearms must always be proportionate to the threat faced; brandishing or discharging a firearm without just cause, especially in public places, is prohibited.
