Young men armed and dangerous are apparently taking aim at each other and firing on their assumed enemies.

For a long time, police have had to contend with this phenomenon in New Providence, in particular where pedestrians and motorcyclists are being shot and at times fatally wounded.

Retaliatory violence appears to be behind two early morning shootings which landed two men in hospital Tuesday morning.

A chunk of two busy thoroughfares and several of their adjoining side corners were blocked off for several hours yesterday and traffic had to be diverted as major portions of both East Street and Market Street were cordoned off with crime scene tape as police investigated the shootings that they say are connected.

The incidents took reporters first to Lily Of The Valley Corner where Officer In Charge Of the Central Detective Unit (CDU), Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle said it was around 7:45 a.m. when a 22-year-old man and a female were walking through that corner when gunshots rang out.

“Persons pulled up in a white Honda type vehicle and produced firearms and began discharging shots at the male and female,” he said. “They ran east toward Hay Street where the male collapsed after being shot to the back.

“He was transported to the Princess Margaret Hospital via EMS personnel.”

Just as reporters arrived at that first scene, police received calls that a second man had been shot just several blocks away at Hay Street.

Reporters had to run from Lily Of The Valley Corner to this second scene as traffic was at a standstill.

Residents in the area also made the mad dash running to see what had happened.

The early morning work and school commute clearly compromised at this point as frustrated motorists sat in their cars with nowhere to go.

“A second male was riding his motorcycle in the McCullough Corner area when persons in a blue vehicle pulled up on him one of the occupants exited the vehicle and produced a firearm,” Chief Supt. Rolle said. “This male then ran from McCullough Corner toward East Street where several shots were fired and he was shot to the chest. He was transported to the hospital in a private vehicle.

“We believe this victim here might be the brother of the suspect in the shooting at Lily Of The Valley Corner.”

This second victim’s motorcycle was still in the middle of the road being dusted and photographed for investigations.

Police said one suspect was arrested in the area of King Street, just off Market Street.

It was not until just before to 9:30 a.m. that the roads were reopened.

Investigations continue.