Ottos Comprehensive School Principal Forster Roberts has issued an emotional appeal for prayers and urgent national action as second-form student Joshua Meade fights for his life at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre after being shot in the face during Monday night’s deadly attack in Bathlodge.

“If we don’t stand up for our young people, with all that is going on, then we do not have a future,” Roberts declared during an interview with Antigua.news on Tuesday.

Joshua was among three people shot when gunmen reportedly entered a home in the community and opened fire. 21-year-old Saquania Anthony, was killed in the attack.

Anthony, a mother of two who was pregnant with her third child, reportedly died on the scene. Her unborn baby also did not survive.

A 25-year-old man was injured in the shooting and taken to hospital, while Joshua remains in critical condition.

Roberts described the teenager as an ordinary student who had shown an interest in becoming more involved in school sports. He said Joshua had spoken to him only recently about joining the school’s football programme.

“Just yesterday, he was asking me about how to become a member of the football team at the school,” the principal said. “That certainly is not the sign of a young man who is involved in any gang.”

Roberts said the student was simply at home when the gunmen struck and strongly rejected any speculation that Joshua had been involved in criminal activity.

“He is just an ordinary child. He was home when it happened,” Roberts said. “He is not involved in any gang. I am asking the population to pray for him and remember him in their prayers because he is hanging on by a thread.”

Roberts said the tragedy must become a turning point in the country’s response to gun violence. He urged parents, churches, schools, non-governmental organisations and community groups to unite and demand meaningful intervention.

“This goes beyond talk. This calls for action from all quarters, the churches, the courts, the NGOs, the schools and the entire society,” he said. “We all have to come together to fight this.”

He added that the issue should not be reduced to political divisions.

“This is not about politics. It is not about the UPP or the ABLP. This is about the young people who are the future of this country,” Roberts said. “We have to intervene now. It cannot be any later.”

Police are continuing their investigation into the Barthlodge shooting. No motive has been officially established, and no arrests have been reported.

Roberts called on the nation to keep Joshua, his surviving family members and the entire Ottos Comprehensive School community in prayer.

Antigua.news extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Saquania Anthony and continues to hope and pray for Joshua’s recovery.