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East Tennessee native and NAACP leader killed in shootout while vacationing in Turks and Caicos

Police in the Turks and Caicos said Kent Carter was with another tourist and three guides from a local business when their car was attacked by gang members.

TENNESSEE, USA — An East Tennessee native was killed after a shooting in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Sunday, Oct. 2.

Police in the Turks and Caicos said Kent Carter was on vacation and with another tourist and three guides from a local business when their car was attacked by gang members.

Police said Carter and a tour guide died in the shooting. Three others were also wounded.

"I believe the attack was targeted and carried out by armed gang members who act without conscience, who have no regard for life and who are hell-bent on causing indiscriminate harm and misery across the TCI," Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said in a press conference. "This violence is linked to drugs supply and is fueled by revenge, turf wars and retribution."

Investigators said the attack ended with a shootout with police. 

One other person, believed to be one of the suspects at this time, was killed during the police response to the gunfire, and two others were hurt, including one of the officers. 

Carter was born and raised in East Tennessee and graduated from Clinton High School before he moved to Virginia in 2009 and started working as a realtor. He was also the vice president of the NAACP Arlington Branch.

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