PATRICE Stone, who was at ‘death’s door’ last Wednesday after been seriously injured in a drive-by shooting, yesterday gave God thanks for saving her life.

Stone, her 37-year-old brother Fitzgerald, and a sister were among a group of persons who were sitting in a public passenger vehicle at Sam Sharpe Square in Central Village, St Catherine when a car loaded with armed men drove up and the occupants began firing wildly.

The gunmen’s bullets took her brother’s life while Stone was critically injured from bullets to the head and side. Her sister escaped the attack unharmed.

Four other persons were also injured in the attack, including a 72-year-old man who is now battling for life after being shot five times in the stomach. The elderly citizen also suffered broken arms and legs.

Stone, after a week of suffering severe pains, was released from hospital yesterday, and recounted her experience, which she said took place on the birthday of her only child.

“We were sitting in the bus waiting for it to load when we saw the driver carrying a man towards the bus. Suddenly, a whole heap a shot start fire and me nuh know anything else. Mi know mi get shot and me say to meself, ‘look how them kill me and mi bredda and sister fi nutten,” Stone, still smarting from pain, told the Observer.

A bullet entered her head just behind the back of her left ear and by some twist of fate, exited at the same spot. The wound is not life-threatening, but another bullet still remains in her left side.

The 47-year-old woman said she has been experiencing dizzy spells as well as severe pains in her side and head. But she said “I have to consider myself lucky. It was a miracle as I could have been dead like my brother”.

However, despite her recent nightmare, Stone still managed to smile and had kind words of advice for her attackers. “I only ask them to pray and give their lives to Jesus,” she said.

But while Stone and the rest of her relatives are happy that she survived the gun attack, they continue to grieve for her brother who was shot in the heart from a bullet that entered from the back. A post-mortem is scheduled to be conducted tomorrow and the Stone family said he will be interred on February 8 at the family plot in Middle Quarters, St Elizabeth.

The community of Central Village is known as a hotbed for violence and has experienced its fair share of murders and shootings over the last two decades.

The community is divided by the Mandela Highway and politics. On the side of the community that lies in the hills, the population traditionally supports the ruling People’s National Party while the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has staunch support from the section of the community which is bordered by the Rio Cobre and Jose Marti High School.

The police reported that the latest outbreak of violence in Central Village has been the result of a feud between gangs from an area known as Zambia and another area known as Windsor Heights.

“It is a turf war going on in there,” said a policeman.

Meanwhile, Stone, who has lived in the community for more than 20 years, said she will never return after her ordeal.

“I have never been involved in any wrongdoing, and although I thank God to be alive I don’t think I can live there anymore,” she said.

The police, in the meantime, have increased their presence in the area.