Crime
Details of First Murder of the Year, victim remains Unnamed by TCI Police
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, January 19, 2024 – Concrete steps covered in blood were the aftermath of a January 3rd shooting in Blue Hills, Providenciales, that left one man dead in the first murder of 2024. Residents say the men were attacked at an apartment complex home by gunmen who managed to get inside; spraying bullets at the two male occupants.
One young man – who social media posts identify as Josh – died slumped in his chair, the other sprinted out of the
building screaming for help, residents say. It’s his blood, copious amounts of it, that photos show spilled across banisters and steps as he tried to get assistance for his injuries.
The shooting was carried out in the midst of an apartment complex populated with other residents who told us they stayed hidden until the shots ended.
Civilians who began to emerge from their homes as the police arrived on the scene recount the interaction between officers and the injured man. He tried to enter the vehicle but was apparently ejected by the officers who told him they could not leave the scene until backup arrived.
It was the residents who acted quickly, taking the man in a private vehicle to the hospital. While police may have been within protocol to stay on the scene, it highlights again, the lack of manpower in the Turks and Caicos. The ambulance, we are told, arrived later.
Police officers alerted the media of the incident around 8:30 that night but have not updated since.
More than two weeks later, no names or motives have been shared.
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Blue Hills, Turks and Caicos — June 26, 2025 – The Turks and Caicos community is in mourning following the brutal killing of a security guard during a robbery at GK Food Store in Blue Hills, a crime police are now investigating as a deliberate assassination.
The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Mervin Mattelles Joseph, a long-serving officer with Spencer Security & Investigation
Services Ltd., and a devoted husband and father of two young boys. According to eyewitnesses and disturbing crime scene video, Joseph was shot multiple times, even as he attempted to flee. His lifeless body was later found face-down near the store entrance, sparking renewed outrage over the vulnerability of frontline security personnel in the territory. “This was more than just a robbery — this was an execution,” said a spokesperson for Spencer Security in an emotional statement. “Mervin was targeted and gunned down while trying to protect others. He gave his life in service and deserved better.” The robbery occurred around 5:29 p.m. on June 25, when three masked, armed men stormed the busy community grocery store. After fatally shooting Joseph, the assailants proceeded to rob the business and fled on foot. Despite a swift response and active dragnet by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the suspects remain at large.
In a rare public appeal, the police have urged anyone with CCTV footage or information—no matter how small—to come forward. “We need the public’s help,” said a police spokesperson. “Justice for Mr. Joseph and his family depends on it.”
The senseless killing has sent shockwaves through the community and reignited calls for better protections for security officers. “He couldn’t even identify them — they didn’t have to kill him,” said one eyewitness. “He was doing his job.”
As the investigation continues, Mervin Joseph is remembered not only as a guard, but as a protector, a father, and a man who paid the ultimate price for his commitment to safeguarding others. The community now awaits justice for a loss that is as profound as it is heartbreaking.
-
Health1 week agoMinistry Clarifies: No Suspension of Overtime in The Emergency Medical Services Department
-
News6 days agoSearch for Missing American Tourist Intensifies in Turks and Caicos
-
Caribbean News1 week agoPresident Ali signs proclamation dissolving parliament
-
TCI News1 week agoThe Environmental Health Department Personnel Participate in Association of Food and Drugs Officials (AFDO) 129th Annual Education Conference
-
News1 week agoSpence Security Demands Gun Reform for Officers After Third Tragic Killing
-
Bahamas News1 day agoPress Statement by Valdez J. Edgecombe (“V.J”) On National Honours Award
-
TCI News6 days agoUnidentified Deceased Male Discovered in Grace Bay Area
-
Caribbean News6 days agoMontego Bay to Benefit from Hosting CARICOM Metting