Shocked and traumatised - Man shot at party grateful for life

Getting shot at an event was the furthest thing from Jeremy Watson's mind when he and his friends left the United States last week to enjoy their annual carnival trek to Jamaica.

But, Watson, who is now nursing a gunshot wound to the left hand after being struck by a stray bullet - and will require surgery - is expressing concern. Even though he is "still in shock", he pointed out that with his 6' 7" frame, perhaps he was the best one in his group to take the bullet.

"I'm shocked ... traumatised, and so too are my friends because they were right there beside me. And I feel that if I wasn't there to take the hit, one of them would have gotten it. So, if I can take it in the arm before anyone else take it, I'll take it in the arm," Watson told THE STAR, as he recalled the events of Sunday night at the carnival hurrah, Big Wall Revolution at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Hope Road, St Andrew.

"Me and my friends walked in [the venue] and we were looking for a spot to hang out and all of a sudden we heard shots and people started running. I hit the ground and when I looked there was blood all over me. My friends rushed me to the ambulance .. but even then, I was the one who had to use my belt to tie around my hand to stop the bleeding. I blacked out a couple time on the way to the hospital because I had lost so much blood," said Watson, who expressed concern that the ambulance was not properly equipped to deal with his injury.

He also pointed out that for a venue that was hosting thousands of persons, there ought to have been more than one ambulance on the ground.

When THE STAR caught up with him on Monday evening, Watson had been released from hospital and was back at his Airbnb with his friends.

"I have some feeling in my hand ... but there is nerve damage and my biceps are all torn up," he said, giving details about his injury. He leaves the island today and when he lands in Tampa, Florida, he will be heading straight to the hospital, where he will undergo surgery.

Quizzed if he has any regrets about coming to Jamaica this year, Watson said "No". Despite the fact that he has suffered "significant physical, emotional, and financial distress", he is determined to view this incident through spiritual lenses, and is focusing on the positives.

"I don't question God's work," Watson told THE STAR. "It's just something that's part of my journey, and I don't question that. I'm still here and that's all that matters."

Watson and two other men, vlogger Jhaedee 'Jaii Frais' Richards, and Trevor Twaite, 36, who is reportedly an associate of the entertainment entity 450, were shot at the carnival event on Sunday. The police report that about 9:30 p.m. an altercation developed among a set of patrons, and guns were subsequently brought into play. In the aftermath, three persons, including, Watson, who was a bystander, were injured. They were taken to hospital for treatment. The Half-Way Tree Criminal Investigation Branch is probing the incident.

The police are reportedly planning to hold meetings with party and event promoters on the topic of security and safety requirements needed to the issuing of permits. In a statement, the promoters of Big Wall noted that they were "deeply saddened and troubled by the incident" and that "the safety of our patrons, staff and partners have always been paramount" and assured that they were fully cooperating with the police.