Witness: Gunshots Ring Outside NightClub After Laughing Gas Dispute

Laughing Gas and Gunshot

By Fatoumata Jaiteh

The trial of the shooting outside a popular nightclub in Fajara continued with a gripping witness testimony detailing how a dispute over laughing gas led to the discharge of a gun and one person injured.

On the witness stand was Mr Abdou Faal, the cousin of Mr Salieu Gaye, who allegedly discharged the weapon. Mr Faal was speaking as a key witness before Magistrate A. Manneh at the Kanifing Magistrate Court on Monday, 16th February 2026.

The incident allegedly took place on 19th January 2026 after Mr Gaye picked up Mr Faal and went clubbing.

According to the witness, the accused informed him that he had purchased balloons and “fast gas”, also known as laughing gas. Laughing gas is a nitrous oxide-filled gas canister or tank used to fill up balloons and inhaled for leisurely fun.

According to the witness, they both proceeded to Propaganda Nightclub in Fajara, where they sat outside “chilling” with their laughing gas and balloons. After using the laughing gas, the witness testified that the gas ran out sooner than expected, which visibly agitated the accused.

Reacting to the depleted laughing gas, the witness testified that the accused remarked, "It should not have finished by that time.”

To rectify the situation, the accused suggested confronting the seller of the depleted laughing gas to have it refilled or demand a refund, revealed the witness.

“This is where the problem started,” said the witness.

Upon approaching the seller and raising their concerns, the seller returned to the nightclub and later returned with his group. According to his testimony, the seller "told us to wait for them to come and give us D2,000.”

The witness noted that the accused waited for a considerable period without receiving either a refund or a refill. Frustrated and angered, he confronted the seller again. However, this time the seller responded harshly to the accused, saying, “If you are a man, come.”

This is when the laughing gas dispute escalated. It was "then that he used a gun," and he “heard two sounds," narrated the witness.

In response, prosecutors questioned if the witness saw the person that was shot, to which he responded in the negative, claiming that he “did not see the person that was shot.”

Providing further clarification, the witness claimed that he only saw the firearm for the first time at the police station following the incident.

In closing, the witness stated that he and the accused boarded the same taxi and left the scene together.

During the proceedings, the witness was asked whether he would be able to recognise the firearm if shown to him. He replied in the affirmative.

A pistol was subsequently produced in court, contained in a box. The witness identified it as the same gun he had previously seen at the police station. The prosecution then tendered the pistol into evidence for identification, and it was marked accordingly.

The case was adjourned to 10th March 2026 for continuation of hearing.

Our reporter made additional enquiries about the gunshots and was informed that the gun fired rubber bullets and not actual bullets. However, it’s been reported that the person shot was taken to hospital, where they were treated for their injuries.