***MEDIA RELEASE***

Turks and Caicos, September 15, 2024 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Serious Crime Unit has identified Barnabas Norbert as the victim of yesterday evening’s homicide.

Mr. Norbert, 60, of Blue Hills, Providenciales, was killed shortly after 9 pm.

Initial police reports indicated that the Police Control Room received reports that gunshots were heard near Phase One in Blue Hills, Providenciales.

Officers, along with medical personnel, responded and, upon arrival at the given location, noticed that two males had sustained what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

Mr. Norbert was deceased, while another male, age 29, was transported to a medical facility for treatment.

The RTCIPF extends condolences to Mr. Norbert’s relatives and friends.

While at the scene of the homicide, officers received information shortly after 10 pm of an aggravated burglary in the area.

A male victim had arrived home when he was accosted by two armed men who proceeded to rob him of valuables. The armed suspects ran off and escaped.

Shortly after 2 am today (September 15), the Police Control Room received a report of a robbery at a restaurant in Kew Town.

Reports are that three males, one of whom was armed with a firearm approached employees as they were closing the establishment and robbed them of a black Honda Fit car.  The vehicle was recovered in Dock Yard today.

These incidents remain under active investigation as the RTCIPF intensifies its efforts against criminal elements.

We are asking anyone with information that may help in these investigations to contact the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 to provide any information anonymously.

Additionally, individuals are encouraged to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app to share information.

Turks and Caicos, September 13, 2024 – Born in the Turks and Caicos, Huraldo De La Cruz Gonzalez was shot to death on Sunday September 8, becoming the 29^th person to be murdered in the Turks and Caicos this year.

Said to be originally from South Caicos, the shots were reported to the Royal TCI Police around 2pm on Sunday as being heard on Church Street in Blue Hills.  Upon arrival, the young man was found, lifeless, informed the police report.

The country’s 28^th murder was Shane Williams.

Wilkie Arthur and Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, September 13, 2024 – TCI Police are not saying how the fire was set, but they do confirm a fire was intentionally set and witnesses speaking to Eagle Legal News Media report that it was thrown into a Wheeland house where it landed in the living room and exploded.

“…it is alleged criminals sent fire bomb (s) through a home, but thankfully no one was in the living room area where it landed and an explosion was heard loudly, no one was hurt or injured,” reported Wilkie Arthur of Eagle Legal on the night of the horrifying incident.

The Police report explains: Shortly after 8 p.m. yesterday (September 9), officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force responded to a fire report at a dwelling in Wheeland, Blue Hills, Providenciales. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers and firefighters saw a structure in flames.

All efforts to contain the fire were successful. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Based on initial reports, the fire appears to have been deliberately set.

The RTCIPF wishes to remind the public that under the Malicious Injuries to Property Ordinance Chapter 3.11, Section 4, “Setting fire to a dwelling-house with any person being therein Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously set fire to any dwelling house, any person being therein, commits an offence, and being convicted thereof shall be liable to imprisonment for life.”

Fire Trucks and Police were summoned to the scene on Monday night.  Images of the response are shared by Eagle Legal.

Meanwhile, the RT&CIPF is asking anyone with information that may help in this investigation to contact the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 8477 to provide any information anonymously.