Update 2 | Shooting in Iklin over stolen cheques, shots were likely blanks

Gunshots were heard on Friday at 9.20pm in Triq Anton Manuel Caruana, Iklin, close to the office-garage of lawyer Jonathan Abela.

The shooting reportedly occurred after the alleged shooter, identified as Christopher Schembri, demanded an explanation from a third party that had given him stolen cheques.

The issue started when Schembri, a fuel distributor, received a number of cheques and used them to pay AC Fuels Limited, a company that imports fuel. MaltaToday was told that the cheques bounced back when the fuel importers tried to cash them. It eventually resulted that Schembri could have been given stolen cheques.

Abela, representing his clients, called Schembri to his office requesting an explanation over the bouncing cheques. The cheques had a mobile number and a third party, identified as David Vella, was called in at the lawyer’s office. The sources claimed that Vella admitted that the cheques had been “stolen from his parents” and he reportedly urged the involved parties to resolve the matters quietly, fearing repercussions for his actions.

Moving out of the lawyer’s office and into the driveway, Schembri and Vella allegedly continued arguing when a shot was fired. Two other shots were fired in the air, the sources said.

Separate sources however told MaltaToday that the shooter fled the office, before returning soon after with a silver pistol in his hand. He allegedly fired a shot and threatened the people in Abela’s office.

As the shooter made to leave the office, one of the people in the same office tried to grab the pistol out of his hands but failed. The shooter left the office, fired two more shots, and escaped the scene.

Although the people present at the scene were shocked as the scene unfolded, none of them suffered any injuries.

District Police, Rapid Intervention Police and police from the Department of Criminal Investigations were quick to arrive at the scene.

They conducted a search for the alleged shooter, as well as an intensive search for any bullets or marks where the three shots had hit. After finding nothing, they concluded that the ‘firearm’ could have been one that simply fires blanks.

Abela was quoted as saying that he had nothing to do with the argument and that he or his clients weren’t the shooter’s target. 

Schembri will be arraigned in court tomorrow.