Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

US tourist killed, police officer injured by criminals

US tourist killed, police officer injured by criminals

The violent shooting incident on Sunday night in the Turks and Caicos Islands which occurred at Long Bay has left three persons dead and five injured. One of the deceased is an American tourist.
Commissioner of Police of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Trevor Botting, provided a chronology of the events of that harrowing night.

He said around 6 pm on Sunday the first targeted attack occurred on a vehicle containing staff of a local business and two tourists being transported back to their accommodation after an excursion on Long Bay road - committed by armed criminals in a vehicle.

The criminals indiscriminately shot into the vehicle transporting the employees and the tourists. As a result of this attack two persons were murdered, one from the local business and the other a tourist from the United States.

Three other persons were injured including the other visitor to the Turks and Caicos.

The next incident involved a police patrol car of the Royal Turks and Caicos Tactical Unit which intercepted a vehicle used by the criminals in the first attack.

Based on information received from the Command Centre the suspected vehicle was followed and tried to evade law enforcement. The criminals started shooting in the direction of the police officers with automatic weapons.

The bullets repeatedly struck the police officers’ vehicle's windscreen and bonnet area multiple times. It also deflated two tyres of the vehicle driven by the police officers.

Commissioner Botting said despite being under fire from automatic weapons, two officers returned fire to protect themselves and their colleagues.

One officer received a serious injury from a gunshot wound. The Commissioner of Police expressed pride in the officers for standing their ground.

Based on injuries sustained throughout the shooting, and the condition of the police vehicle, the vehicle containing the criminals escaped and the officers immediately sought medical help for their seriously injured colleague.

The third incident saw a man representing himself at the hospital with a head injury. It is believed he was struck by shots discharged by the criminals in their confrontation with the police officers.

A fourth incident is being actively investigated. A report of an unidentified male body in Dockyard. The Police Commissioner said while subject to confirmation, police believe him to be one of the armed attackers who shot at police officers during the attack on the police vehicle.

Police Commissioner Trevor Botting condemned the explosion of violence on Sunday evening which he said was perpetrated by reckless armed criminals.

He believes the original attack was targeted and carried out by armed gang members who acted without conscious, who had no regard for life and were hell-bent on causing indiscriminate harm and misery across the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Top Cop reported the violence is linked to drug supply and issued by revenge, turf wars and retribution.

He said gangs must not be allowed to destabilise the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Botting said the police force knows people are frightened by the levels of violence on the TCI over the past few months, however, he said police officers are not cowed by the violence or violent criminals.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force expect substantial support to be arriving in the TCI from across the region and the UK.

Botting said support will be in the shape of armed officers and investigators to assist the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force deal with the current threats.

The Police Commissioner added that he is grateful to the TCI and UK governments for their support and the government and Commissioner of Police of the Royal Bahamas Police Force for their solidarity and support.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
×