Knoxville, Tennessee (WVLT/Grey News) – A soldier was reportedly killed in an attack while on vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands last weekend.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Chief Trevor Potting reported that three people were killed, one of them a tourist from the United States, and five others were injured in a series of “targeted attacks” in the area.
Although not named in the police statement, the Washington Post and CBS News identified the tourist as Kent Carter, who grew up in the Knoxville area. According to reports, Carter was killed while returning to his hotel after an expedition on October 2.
The Washington Post reported that Carter and his girlfriend were celebrating his 40th birthday when they were attacked. The police chief indicated that “armed criminals” in a car started “randomly shooting” at the car, which was carrying employees of a local company and tourists around 6 pm.
According to his Linkedin and Realtor profile, Carter recently lived in Northern Virginia and was a real estate agent. Carter was also Chairman of the Arlington NAACP Criminal Justice Committee and a US Army veteran.
“As a result of this attack, two people were killed, one from a local company and one from the United States,” Botting said. “Our deepest condolences to the families of the dead.”
Police believe the group was a target but Carter was no clear target, according to reports.
Butting said police officers found the suspected attackers and exchanged fire with them, seriously injuring an officer. According to the police chief, the criminals’ car escaped, but an unidentified body, believed to be one of the suspected attackers, has since been found.
Butting stated that he believed the original attack was targeted and carried out by armed gang members who acted without conscience or respect for life. According to Botting, the violence was linked to drug supplies, wars of influence, and revenge.
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