A 17-year-old Maryland boy was killed and two members of his family were injured in a shooting in Puerto Rico on the first weekend of July, authorities on the island said.
Carlos Anibal Rosado Martinez is accused of shooting Tommy Grays and his uncle and stepfather on a beach in the resort of Isla Verde after an argument.
Tommy’s father said that some on the island are unfairly making his son look like a villain.
“My son was an innocent child without a violent bone in his body,” said Tommy Grays, who goes by the same name as his son. “He had never been in a physical fight a day in his life and lost his life, and it is said that he was being violent. Has no sense”.
Grays added that the argument involved another family member and ended when the shooter grabbed a gun. The incident occurred on Saturday, July 1, according to the police report.
“My son had actually prevented the situation from happening,” he explained. “Then he walked back to the beach and was in the water with his stepdad when the guy came running back with the gun shooting at them.”
Tommy is the third tourist killed in Puerto Rico in the last two months. His father is concerned that efforts to protect the tourist economy are affecting public opinion in the case.
“What is happening is that it is turning around that the tourist was an aggressor in the situation, and it is not like that at all,” he emphasized.
Grays traveled to Puerto Rico after receiving the call about his son’s death and is trying to get answers and bring his son’s body home.
“I just want to get my babies home and somewhere safe, and I never want to see this place again,” she said.
Tommy lived in Olney and was a senior at Blake High School.
“Although quite new to the school community, I had developed strong relationships with many students and staff in such a short time,” the principal wrote in a letter to the school community. “His smile from him was contagious.”
“He was so excited about it and he won’t see his first day as a senior,” his father lamented.
Tommy’s stepfather was shot in the face and remains in the hospital.
The 23-year-old suspect faces charges of first degree murder, attempted murder and violations of articles 6.05 and 6.14 of the Weapons Law, for illegally firing a firearm for which he did not have a license.
