Crime
Man killed in Grace Bay in broad daylight; Murder No. 12
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, August 4, 2023 – A towering hotel, a cheerful golf cart, and next to them, a young man sprawled in his own blood; that was the scene in Grace Bay Providenciales on Wednesday afternoon, when gunmen in the Turks and Caicos Islands once again, carried out an execution in broad daylight, feet from innocent residents and visitors.
Magnetic Media began to receive frantic calls just before 3 p.m. on August 2, reporting a caravan of police heading quickly toward the tourist centre. Minutes later, residents confirmed that once again, a young man’s life had been taken in a brutal shower of bullets, and this time the murder took place just outside the entrance to a few resort.
Photos of the scene show residents peeking over perfectly trimmed hedges at the body as blood seeps onto the street. Police swarmed the scene soon after, cordoning off the area and conducting investigations.
The killing also impacted traffic as motorists were rerouted away from the grisly scene. The shooting terrified those
in the vicinity because of the sheer amount of shots, we are told by one resident.
“OMG!!!! IT WAS LIKE A MOVIE, AT LEAST 50 SHOTS.”
Police have not confirmed who the dead man is, the nature of the killing, how many spent shells were recovered or the possible motives behind the murder, which marks the 12th for 2023.
Our efforts have determined though he is Guilene ‘GB’ Baptiste, 26 years old and recently relieved of a battery of illicit drug charges at the Magistrate’s Court this past June. Baptiste was most known as the man arrested when alleged infamous gangster and wanted murderer, Brandon Rahming was killed in a Police take-down last November. Now, ‘GB’ is gone.
What is concerning is that ‘rare’ can no longer be used to describe the nature of these daylight killings that put innocents at risk, as they are escalating in frequency and reckless in nature.
In the past three months alone, men have been gunned down near schools, businesses and a nightclub. It is a situation that residents say is making them increasingly heartsick. A letter to the Government; last month said: “We desire a better Turks and Caicos culture and reject the path of violence and diminished quality of life.”
The incident once again elicited a statement from the Governor; Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and Washington Misick, TCI Premier jointly released the plan of the National Security Council hours after the reckless shooting.
A day later, the Commissioner of Police offered his comments on the Grace Bay shooting and another, involving Police in the community of Kew Town.
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent
#TurksandCaicos, May 21, 2024 – The grieving father and community members in Dock Yard, long before official confirmation, informed Magnetic Media that the individual shot and killed by the police in Snake Hill, off Millennium Highway, Blue Hills, Providenciales, was “ToTo,” officially known as 14-year-old ANTORENS DORCELY.
Permission was granted by the father to disclose the child’s name as he is deceased.
After reports of the shooting and robbery on the night of Tuesday, May 14th, 2024, Medical professionals on the scene confirmed to Magnetic Media that a young male was fatally shot by the police. While initially believed to be between 15 or 16 years old, further investigation revealed that 14-year-old Toto had not been seen or heard from since the night of the incident.
According to the first official press release from TCI Police; they were fired upon in a marked police vehicle and returned fire at a reported stolen car, resulting in the death of an individual.
Over the following days, police issued two additional statements regarding the fatal shooting. One statement mentioned two separate robbery reports in the Blue Hills vicinity on the same night.
This reporter received a voice note from a woman claiming to have been robbed of her car and valuables by two gunmen around the same time the boy was killed by authorities.
Police mentioned in one of their statements that multiple individuals fled the scene that night, but they did not mention recovering a firearm.
Videos obtained by Magnetic Media showed a small orange car with bullet holes and shattered windows, while no damage was observed on any police vehicles.
The father, although acknowledging his son’s involvement in crime, expressed disbelief that his son would shoot at the police, tearfully stating that he didn’t believe the police had to kill his son.
Community members disclosed that Toto turned to crime to support himself and his younger brother after their mother’s death. Residents expressed a desire for the surviving brother to be relocated to a better environment and offered support to ensure his well-being and education.
Toto and his surviving brother, said to be 11 years old were born in the Turks and Caicos, and their tragic circumstances raise questions about the use of lethal force.
Magnetic Media conducted an extensive investigation, including interviews with the deceased boy’s father and community members. There were visits to the shooting scene at Snake Hill, and examination of the alleged stolen orange car, which is now impounded at the police compound.
#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – Detectives of the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have
charged a man who allegedly stole a vehicle.
The accused, DANVANTE BRISCO, 30, of Kew Town, Providenciales, was charged with:
- One Count: Robbery
- One Count: Taking Motor Vehicle Without Authority
- One Count: Using Offensive Weapon to cause fear
Mr. BRISCO appeared in court today (May 13 ) and was granted bail of $7500.00 with one surety.
The matter was adjourned to July 05 for a Sufficiency Hearing.
#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – A 20-year-old Dock Yard male appeared in court today (May 13th) charged with a series of firearm-related offences.
The accused, JAMES SIMON, was denied bail and remanded into custody pending a Sufficiency Hearing scheduled for July 05th, 2024.
Mr. SIMON faces the following charges:
- One Count: Robbery;
- One Count: Gang Membership
- One Count: Possession of a Firearm for the Benefit of a Gang
- One Count: Possession of Ammunition for the Benefit of a Gang.
The charges against Mr. Simon followed investigations by officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force into a robbery at the parking lot of a Casino where three males robbed a victim.
Additionally, Mr. Simon is charged with the following offences, having been arrested on May 02nd, 2024, along South Dock Road.
- One Count: Possession of a Firearm
- One Count: Possession of Ammunition
- One Count: Unlawful Entry
Officers also charged a teenage minor who was in the company of Mr. Simon on May 02nd with One Count of UNLAWFUL ENTRY.
The accused, seventeen and from Kew Town, Providenciales, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on May 20th.
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