ONE man was fatally shot, two other persons injured and another man is lost at sea after gunshots rang out on board Sharky’s party boat as it drifted along the Montego Bay coast in the wee hours of Monday morning.

The alleged shooter, who has injuries to the face after being hit with a bottle, has been admitted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) under police guard as the Montego Bay CIB continues investigations into the incident.

The shooting broke out at about 1:30 am, sparking panic on board with many of the approximately 100 patrons running and screaming but unable to leave the boat which was nowhere near land.

Based on reports from witnesses on board the vessel, the shooting was linked to a one-year-old dispute between the alleged shooter and the man lost at sea. The missing man has been identified as David Ellis of Hart Street in Montego Bay.

“It is reported that two of the patrons got into a dispute during which one used a bottle to hit the other in his face, causing a wound,” Constable Peter Salkey, the St James Constabulary Communication Network liaison officer, told reporters. “It is also believed that the injured man (then) pulled his licensed firearm and fired several shots.”

Paul “Woodie Man” Haynes, a 26-year-old labourer of 23 Creek Street in Montego Bay, was fatally shot in the neck; a 46-year-old businessman was shot in his left leg and a 41-year-old businesswoman was shot in her right leg.

All three were taken to the CRH where Haynes was pronounced dead on arrival, the injured woman was treated and released and the man who received the leg wound admitted.

“This incident is a long-standing feud between the two men, who are licensed firearm holders. It (began after Ellis) hit (the alleged shooter) in the face with a bottle in retaliation for (a similar injury) he got about a year ago,” said one man who was on board.

The man, who declined to give his name, added that there were conflicting reports about who actually fired the shots.

“When (the man the police say is the alleged shooter) got hit (with the bottle), his face was full of blood. He had some people that came on the boat with him. They say is not him really shoot, is one of his boys take his gun and fire. And when “Woodie Man” fell, two other people got shot in them foot. It is alleged that Ellis got shot and jumped overboard because he was alone and (the man who was hit in the face) had his entourage with him. So Ellis is yet to be found,” the witness said.

The police combed the waters during the day, but were unable to find Ellis’ body.

Meanwhile, indications are that the dead man and the other two injured persons, whose names the police have not released, were innocent bystanders. They were said to be standing next to Ellis when the shots were fired.

A large, bloodstained area on the carpet near a section of the boat’s pale blue railing marked the spot where the bullets met flesh. There were also traces of blood on a few areas of the boat, the deck and one of the buildings in the pier’s complex.

The details of the incident — which included a Moet champagne bottle used as a weapon, gun-toting patrons on the popular party boat, and an unclaimed Mark II motor car parked near the pier after Ellis failed to return from the cruise — provided fodder for Montegonians for most of the day.

Crowds gathered at Pier One, where the boat was docked, and at Madden’s Funeral Home where Haynes’ body was taken. Most people were reluctant to talk on the record, for fear of retribution from those involved. But according to one member of the Pieces Sound System, which was on board providing music, there were about three off-duty cops on board acting as security guards.

“There are three policemen (on the boat on) any night. The boat doesn’t go out without them, and there are metal detectors,” he said.

According to the sound system man, licensed firearm holders are allowed to take weapons aboard the boat. The owner of the boat and the lessee who stages the Sunday night parties on board could not be contacted for comment.

“(The incident) was just unfortunate, I don’t see why anyone would have to wait until they are out on the sea (to do something like this). The two man them have them gun, why wait until them out there to endanger (others)?” said one man who was on board. “I mean, Ellis could have waited until when he came (on land) and then accosted him; he has seen him many times before.”