A sheriff’s deputy from Cook County lost her life while on vacation in Turks and Caicos on Saturday, according to authorities and the victim’s family.
Fifty-year-old Deputy Shamone Duncan was reportedly shot on the rooftop of Aziza Restaurant & Lounge in Providenciales around 10 p.m. local time.
What was meant to be a weekend of festivities for Deputy Duncan turned tragic. Her only son, Shamon Payton, informed ABC7 that she was in Turks and Caicos celebrating her sister’s birthday when gunfire erupted outside of a party, and a stray bullet struck the grandmother.
Duncan’s family stated that Aziza is situated close to Grace Bay Suites, where the birthday celebration was taking place. The 50-year-old grandmother was enjoying her second night of a three-night stay on the island, celebrating her sister’s birthday. Payton mentioned that his mother and two of her sisters attended a rooftop gathering at a restaurant on Saturday evening when a disagreement broke out below. At that point, he said, a gunfight erupted.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has confirmed that Duncan and 30-year-old Dario Stubbs, a resident of Turks and Caicos, were fatally shot in the vicinity. A third individual, a 29-year-old man, sustained injuries.
Authorities indicated there is no indication that any of the three victims were specifically targeted in the shooting.
For Payton, the strong bond he shared with his parent was abruptly severed. A profound emptiness now fills his heart as he confronts a new reality without his mother after the tragedy in Turks and Caicos.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office reported that Duncan, who had a 21-year career with the Cook County Department of Corrections, was serving at Cermak Health Services at the time of her passing.
Duncan’s memory continues through her only child, who is coping with the unimaginable grief. Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding Duncan’s death. No arrests have been made.
