By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, October 6, 2022 – A new month has come with little change for the residents of the Turks and Caicos as October, like September, began with a weekend of violent crime.

A public shootout in Long Bay on Sunday afternoon between police and criminals resulted in several injuries including that of a police officer and at least two bystanders. Videos of the event show one man prone in the road, bleeding profusely after obviously having been shot and another bleeding from the face in a supermarket as residents try to offer assistance in both cases.

The shocking incident is even more proof that the criminals that have taken up residence in the Turks and Caicos Islands are ruthless, uncaring of whether their violence spills over onto innocent people.

Later, the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands would confirm, three people died on Sunday October 3; one a guest at the Ritz Carlton resort, visiting Turks and Caicos from Virginia.

Several conflicting reports have emerged from the Cheshire Hall Medical Center regarding violent events that might have taken place there.  The police have not confirmed anything but the hospital was under heavy police guard last night.

Less than 24-hours before the incident a 14-year-old child was arrested by police for allegedly being in possession of ammunition at a youth sporting event. Whether the incident was as a result of idle curiosity an attempt at intimidation or one of countless other probabilities one thing is for sure our teenagers are being exposed to violence much too early.

It was also reported in local media that a second 14-year-old was shot at the same event.

As if that weren’t enough, two men were shot in separate incidents on Friday night; one was killed, the other fighting for his life in hospital.

Police say around 8 p.m. on Friday, multiple residents reported hearing gunshots in School Hill, Five Cays where on arrival, members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands police found the body of a young man with gunshot wounds marking the 23rd murder victim this year.

Less than 30 minutes later, a man was dropped off at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center after being shot in the chest.

While they say they believe the first shooting was targeted the police have admitted that they are not sure about the circumstances surrounding the man in hospital who is in critical condition.

By Sunday morning, three more men had been arrested for gun possession after a car chase along Millennium Highway.

A police report informed that about 1 a.m. on Sunday, officers on patrol saw a white vehicle and indicated it should stop. When the men inside refused, a chase ensued and the white car crashed into a ditch trying in an attempt to evade police.

Police say one tried to run, leaving his compatriots behind and the two other occupants were trapped in the vehicle. Video evidence of the incident shows the car badly damaged, resting in bushes as those on scene freed the occupants from the car.

After rescuing the men and providing first aid, during a search a gun was discovered in the vehicle along with ammunition.

All three men were summarily held and arrested.