A Virginia NAACP leader and Army veteran was shot dead while shielding his girlfriend earlier this week when they were caught in the crossfire of an apparent gang-related shootout during a Caribbean vacation.
Kent Carter, who was first vice president of the civil rights organization’s Arlington, VA, chapter, was killed in Turks and Caicos Islands Sunday, according to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
“NAACP Arlington Branch mourns the tragic and unexpected loss of our 1st Vice President, Kent Carter, who passed away Sunday, October 2, 2022, while vacationing abroad,” the chapter wrote on Facebook. “Our deepest sympathies go out to his family. May God grant them strength during this time of sorrow.”
Pay attention to this #NAACP #KentCarter #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/e1hQ2O5f1u
— smoove (@KyseJ) October 5, 2022
Police Commissioner Trevor Botting told reporters investigators believe Carter’s killing was random and may have been linked to a turf war between rival gangs. Carter and his girlfriend, who was not identified, were visiting the islands to celebrate his 40th birthday, The pair were leaving the beach on a hotel shuttle bus when he was shot.
Botting told NBC4 that gang members shot “indiscriminately,” hitting the shuttle bus and sparking a shootout with police. In addition to Carter, a tour guide and a suspect were killed and five other people were injured.
“These criminals proceeded to indiscriminately shoot into the vehicle transporting the employees and tourists,” Botting said. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families of those murdered.”
No arrests had been made, but police recovered the suspects’ car and several guns, authorities said.
A U.S. State Department spokesman said officials are providing consular assistance to Carter’s loved ones.
NAACP Arlington Branch President Julius Spain told the outlet Carter shielded his girlfriend from the gunshots, potentially saving her life.
“Words alone aren’t enough to say how much this hurts, how much we grieve right now,” Spain said.
Carter worked as a real estate agent in the Northern Virginia area. Robert York, a neighbor of Carter’s, said the slain man will be greatly missed.
“He and his family, just really great neighbors. So this is just incredibly sad news,” he told FOX 5 DC.