Three killed, 10 injured in Turks and Caicos’ first mass shooting

Three young men were killed and 10 others injured in a mass shooting at a popular nightspot in the Turks and Caicos Islands early Sunday, in what authorities described as the British territory’s first such incident in recent history.

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Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey said at least four suspects were involved in the shooting, which occurred on the island of Providenciales. No arrests have been made. “Deeply disturbing,” Bailey said of the incident.

Premier Charles Washington Misick said the violence appeared to be gang-related and concentrated within the Haitian community. “We are now having a gangland-type slaying, and a lot of this gang violence seems to be concentrated in our Haitian communities,” he said at a press conference. He urged members of that community to assist police, adding that some may have information on how guns are being smuggled into the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“What is happening here is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before,” Misick added. “This is not a situation we should accept.”

The shooting comes as the territory intensifies its crackdown on illegal immigration. An estimated 10,900 Haitians live in the Turks and Caicos Islands, accounting for about a third of the total population. Approximately 80 percent of them reside in Providenciales, and 20 percent have permanent residency, according to the United Nations humanitarian affairs office.

Bailey, who was appointed commissioner earlier this year, previously served as Jamaica’s Deputy Commissioner of Police for Crime and Security. He spent four decades with the Jamaica Constabulary Force and was widely recognized for leading successful anti-gang operations and improving investigative systems before retiring in 2024 and taking up the role in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

One of the most notable cases under his leadership was the investigation into the kidnapping and murder of 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell and her mother, Toshyna Patterson, in September 2023. The case garnered national attention due to its brutality and the involvement of multiple suspects, including U.S. Navy petty officer Leoda Bradshaw, who was charged with orchestrating the crime. Bailey described the investigation as one of the most painful in recent times.

Acting Governor Anya Williams said the hospital in Providenciales was placed on lockdown to protect the injured. At least two of the victims were flown overseas for further medical treatment.