NICHOLAS Lewis had dreamed of becoming a soldier. In fact, last Friday he was scheduled to do an interview that, had he been successful, would have cleared him to join the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) as an officer, his mother told the Jamaica Observer.

But on that same day, hours before his interview, Lewis — who co-ordinates the cadet programme at The Queen’s School — was shot by gunmen in his own West Kingston community and is now in hospital in serious condition.

The bloody attack on the 22-year-old Jamaica College old boy occurred shortly after 8:00 am at the intersection of Charles and Bond streets as he was being transported home by a colleague teacher from the high school.

Lewis, the Sunday Observer was told, had gone to the school early that morning to complete a few tasks before returning home to prepare for the JDF interview.

“As soon as they reached in the community, a group of men walked out into the road with guns in hand,” said a cop.

The men, the police said, ordered the driver of the vehicle to stop. The driver refused and the gunmen opened fire at the vehicle.

The teacher managed to drive the bullet-riddled car out of the area, but found out afterwards that Lewis was shot.

Police say the attack has brought to more than 15 the number of persons shot and injured in the last two weeks in West Kingston, where gangs are engaged in a deadly turf war.

The police say they have since increased their presence in the area. However, that has not eased the heavy tension in the community.

On Friday evening when the Sunday Observer went to Chestnut Lane, close to where Lewis was attacked, nervous residents were seen peering from their windows.

Others ran at the sight of each passing vehicle.

“Right now we nuh know who to trust; at anytime there can be a drive-by. We trust no one,” said one woman.