Mom speaks out after daughter is detained for bringing ammo to the Caribbean | EUROtoday

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A mom has spoken out after her daughter made the “horrible mistake” of carrying ammo right into a Caribbean airport.

Willie Lucas shared her heartbreak after being compelled to go away her daughter, Sharitta Shinese Grier, on the Turks and Caicos Islands as she returned to their Florida dwelling.

Ms Grier, 45, faces as much as 12 years in jail after she walked into the airport carrying rounds of ammunition in her baggage.

She is the fifth American since February to be caught carrying ammunition into an airport within the Caribbean archipelago – all of whom are at the moment awaiting their destiny and residing collectively in a rental property on the island.

Ms Lucas was compelled to go away her daughter within the palms of authorities and return to the sunshine state 600 miles away, testifying she “didn’t want to come home”.

The mom continues to ask for prayers for her daughter’s protected return and warns others to be vigilant and keep away from mistakenly bringing ammo into an airport.

“Be safe when you go out of town. Just be safe. Be careful and keep us in your prayers, [because] God knows we sure gonna need it,” she advised Fox 35 Orlando.

Chanchy Willis, Ms Grier’s cousin, additionally let her grievances be identified, including: “Just for two bullets? It was just a horrible mistake for all five,” Willis mentioned.

After posting bail and awaiting to see a choose on 5 July, Ms Grier joins Ryan Watson of Oklahoma, Tyler Wenrich of Virginia, Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, and Michael Lee Evans of Texas in an Airbnb.

Mr Evans has been allowed to return to the US, however should wait till after his official sentencing subsequent month. Currently, not one of the 5 are allowed to go away the island.

Those touring to Turks and Caicos caught with a firearm, ammunition, or different weapon can face a minimal jail sentence of 12 years.

Mr Watson, 40, is a type of being detained alongside Ms Grier within the British territory.

Airport safety combed via his carry-on baggage to search out a number of massive bullets from a looking rifle on 12 April. Staff on the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma missed the rounds throughout a safety test and are investigating the “oversight”.

The dad-of-two posted a $15,000 bail and fears that the specter of jail would possibly imply he misses out on watching his two kids – aged seven and 9 – develop up.

“I’ve never wanted something so badly in my life as badly as I want to see them,” he advised The Independent earlier this month.

Valeria Watson, Mr Watson’s spouse, added that the US embassy in Turks and Caicos “hasn’t really been able to do a whole lot”.

Mr Wenrich, 31, was arrested on 20 April after customs authorities discovered two stray nine-millimeter rounds in his backpack at an airport. He claimed he’d beforehand taken the bag to a capturing vary.

He was capable of get via safety at an airport in Richmond earlier than he flew to Miami for a cruise to the Caribbean islands. He spent a complete of 12 days behind bars earlier than having his bail granted.

Mr Hagerich, 39, of Somerset County has been held on the island since being detained in February after he was caught carrying looking ammunition in his baggage on the airport, allegedly unbeknownst to him.

The dad-of-two was ordered to remain on the island for one more three weeks till his sentencing, a choose dominated on 10 May. He’s been caught on the island for greater than 90 days.

Mr Evans, 72, was granted $20,000 bail earlier than being permitted to return to Texas as he’s mentioned to be affected by a medical situation.

The arrests have prompted furor throughout the US, resulting in governors of Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia pleading with Turks and Caicos officers.

In a letter final week to the islands’ governor, they mentioned the three males – Mr Watson, Mr Hagrich, and Mr Wenrich – charged from their states inadvertently took ammunition with them on trip. They weren’t carrying firearms.