Outdated flare disposal by rival Blacktip Island dive staffs erupted into a flare-gun shootout Thursday evening, injuring multipe participants. (photo courtesy of Krzysztof Burghardt)
Five Blacktip Island residents were arrested, and eight were sent to the small Caribbean island’s medical clinic Thursday evening, after two Blacktip Island dive staffs engaged in a flare-gun shootout while disposing of their outdated signal flares.
“Eagle Ray Divers and Club Scuba Doo each decided to get rid of their expired emergency signal flares after work,” Island Police Constable Rafe Marquette said. “Problem was, they disposed of the flares by shooting them off instead of just throwing them away. Both staffs were on the beach, within hailing distance of each other. One thing led to another, and the two groups started throwing hand-held flares back and forth.
“Things escalated when both sides switched to flare guns,” Marquette said. “Those things have range and velocity. Divemasters on both sides took direct hits and sustained significant injuries. Five of them are in the island jail on assault and use off offensive weapons charges.”
Locals say the shootout was not completely unexpected.
“There’s no love lost between the two staffs,” Wendy Beaufort said. “The resorts are right next to each other, and the staffs are always jockeying for the best dive sites. Putting both groupss that close to each other, then arming them, that was disaster waiting to happen.”
It was not immediately clear who started the shooting.
“Finn Kiick over at CSD popped off the first flare-gun round,” Eagle Ray Divers’ Alison Diesel said. “He and Gage Hoase got semi-aggro last week, and the shot was Finn’s ballistic eff you that whacked Gage smack in the head. Gage responded in kind.”
Kiick disputed that narrative.
“I was laughing at Lee Helm trying to throw hand-helds with his little noodle arms,” Kiick said from the island jail. “He got all butt-hurt and shot a flare at me. I just returned fire. Hitting Gage was an accident—those plastic pistols aren’t built for accuracy.”
Multiple island residents witnessed the fire fight.
“We had just taken the kiddos down to the beach when the shooting started,” Jodi Hamlet said. “We high-tailed it back under the palm trees so’s not to be caught in the crossfire. My little ones stayed busy putting out fires in the downed palm fronds. It was really quite lovely. From a safe distance.”
The island’s medical clinic was overwhelmed.
“We only have the one examination table, a couple of chairs and limited supplies,” nurse Marissa Graysby said. “With seven, eight patients needing medical attention, I had to lie them on the floor for treatment. Most have varying degrees of phosphorus burns, and several severe contusions from direct hits. I’m completely out of unguent and bandages.”
Constable Marquette instituted new flare disposal protocols.
“Flare gun privileges have been revoked for a more than a dozen individuals,” he said. “And a mandatory fire and firearm safety class is scheduled for all island dive staff.
“Also, going forward, flare guns may be used only on a boat, and only in actual emergencies,” he said. “You wouldn’t think it needed to be said, yet here we are.”
The Blacktip Times 