Three young men were killed and ten others injured in what authorities have described as the first mass shooting in the recent history of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The attack occurred early Sunday at a popular nightspot on the island of Providenciales.
Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey called the shooting “deeply disturbing” and confirmed that at least four suspects were involved, though no arrests have yet been made.
Premier Charles Washington Misick characterized the incident as a “gangland-type slaying” and noted that recent gang violence seems to be concentrated in the territory’s Haitian communities. “What is happening here is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before,” Misick stated during a press conference. He urged the Haitian community to cooperate with the police investigation, suggesting some members may have information about how firearms are being smuggled into the British territory.
The shooting occurs as the archipelago intensifies its crackdown on illegal immigration. According to the United Nations, an estimated 10,900 Haitians reside in the Turks and Caicos Islands, accounting for roughly one-third of the total population.
Acting Governor Anya Williams announced that the hospital in Providenciales was placed on lockdown to protect those being treated for their injuries. She confirmed that at least two of the wounded were flown overseas to receive further medical treatment.
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