A motorcyclist was shot at while riding through the Hooiberg area on Wednesday night, in the second such incident to rattle Aruba’s motorcycle community in recent weeks.
The rider had left a bar and was heading home when, while traveling through the Hooiberg area, he felt something strike him in the back. It was only after he arrived home that he realized he had been hit by a bullet.
The bullet became lodged in the leather belt he was wearing — the buckle stopping the projectile and apparently sparing him from far more serious injuries. His condition is not considered grave, but the incident has raised concern among people who regularly travel through the Hooiberg area.
The identity of the motorcyclist has not been released. However, people within the motorcycle community reportedly believe he is part of the same group as a motorcyclist who was shot at a few weeks earlier.
All relevant authorities are aware of the situation and are closely monitoring it, according to the report.
The case comes as police investigate a separate shooting involving a motorcyclist in Sero Biento, reported the same night. In that incident, a rider traveling through Sero Biento felt pain in his back and discovered at home that a bullet had lodged in his back brace. Police patrols, the criminal investigation department and forensic officers responded to the scene, and the Cuerpo Policial Aruba (KPA) appealed to witnesses to call the police tipline at 11141.
Police have said they are aware of several shooting cases around Sero Biento and are investigating them rigorously, and have not ruled out arrests in the coming days.
Sources: 24ora, 24ora English
