HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - An American tourist was flown to a South Florida hospital after, authorities said, he was was shot during a home invasion while visiting Turks and Caicos, last Friday.
According to police, the shooting took place on Friday night, at around 10:12 p.m., while the victim, 57-year-old Michael Jones, was vacationing in Turks and Caicos. While he was inside a home located along Tranquility Lane, armed intruders attempted to break into the residence.
“We know that two assailants were involved, with guns,” said Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Commissioner James Smith during a Skype interview.
Investigators said Jones, an attorney based out of Washington, D.C., was shot in his upper body during the ordeal. He was medically treated at the scene, then transported to a hospital at the island before being airlifted to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood for further care.
There were other family members inside the home during the shooting, but police said they did not suffer injuries. “We had officers on scene following up a 911 call, and they arrived within three or four minutes after the call,” said Smith.
This shooting comes a month after another American tourist was shot in Turks and Caicos, on June 23.
Kevin Newman, from Alabama, and his family were in the Turks and Caicos when he was robbed at gunpoint in the early morning hours. Authorities said he was alone when he was shot multiple times and left for dead.
Newman was airlifted to Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition. He spent days in the intensive care unit but did recover.
Jones has since been discharged from the hospital, as of Tuesday.
Newman’s son, Gavin Newman, spoke with 7News about the incident, June 26. “I can’t stand to see him like that, ’cause it’s my dad,” he said. “My dad is my best friend.”
A spokesperson from Jones’ law firm, Kirkland and Ellis, released a statement that read in part, “Mike was treated successfully and is in stable condition and is expected to fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike and his family, and we look forward to welcoming him back after his recovery.”
No arrests have been made during the investigation, but Smith said they have some good leads. “We’ve recovered significant forensic material from the scene,” he said. “We also have possession of CCTV video footage, which is helping us, and I can tell you that, as of [Monday], we’ve reached out to some of our American counterparts to help us with this investigation.”
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