Two Best Friends Gunned Down, 16 Year Old Boy Arressted
Monday, April 18, 2011
, Posted by fettisblog at 9:48 AM
Gunned down: James Kouzaris, 24, from Northampton (right) and James Cooper, 25, from Warwickshire 
Detectives in America are investigating how two British holidaymakers, university friends James Cooper, 25, and James Kouzaris, 24, came to be shot dead in a rundown neighbourhood in Florida. They were murdered in Newtown, a deprived part of the city of Sarasota, in the early hours of Saturday.Local officers said it was 'very unusual' to find tourists in this area, which is about 12 miles away from the upmarket island city of Longboat Key where the pair were staying with Mr Cooper's family.
Officers found the first body surrounded by up to 20 shell casings before discovering the second victim 50 feet away in the early hours of Saturday morning. Local residents had reported what they thought was 'machine gun fire'.A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder.
James Kouzaris - who had posted pictures of himself on Facebook from exotic locations around the world - was shot dead three days after his 25th birthday.
He had previously visited Ecuador, Taiwan, Argentina, Vietnam and Laos before joining up with university friend Mr Cooper for the holiday in Florida. While in Taiwan he is also believed to have taught English.
The former was a tennis coach and an only child. He had studied management, with Mr Kouzaris taking town planning.
They had been staying on the upmarket island city of Longboat Key, about 12 miles from the less affluent area where they were killed.
Friends and family paid tribute to Mr Kouzaris, known as 'Jam', on his Facebook profile page.
Posts commented on his positivity and one friend said Mr Kouzaris 'lived every day to the fullest'.
Lynn Hucker wrote: 'To a beautiful cousin who I will never forget. Always happy and full of life. You will be so sadly missed James.'
Another post from a friend called Ben Stacey read: 'RIP Jam, absolute legend. It was an honour mate, I was so looking forward to seeing you again in Miami. The month travelling with you was some of the best times I've had and was so thankful I met you. Rated you very highly XO'.
'I am immensely shocked and saddened by the news and send our deepest condolences to his family.'
Mr Kouzaris, from Northampton, was a guest of the Cooper family, from Warwick, who were on holiday in the area, police said.
A statement from Mr Kouzaris' family described him as a 'wonderful son'.
It said: 'We loved him so much and we can't believe he has gone. We are absolutely devastated and in a state of complete shock.'
Police in Sarasota said neither of the men were in possession of drugs, but would not say whether they had cash or weapons.
Captain Paul Sutton, of Sarasota Police, said: 'This is an area where not many tourists venture. We are still trying to ascertain why they were there.'
'It is a residential neighbourhood with no shops and no bars. We do not know what brought them here at 3am.'
A spokesman for the British consulate in Miami said: 'British consular officials can confirm that two British nationals were killed in Sarasota, Florida, on April 16. Next of kin have been notified.
'Officials from the consulate in Orlando are providing assistance. The two male victims were on holiday in Florida with other family and friends.'
Shootings of British tourists are rare in the U.S. but in November 2009 Thomas Reeve was gunned down while drinking with friends in a Texas bar.
He was visiting the city during a road trip across the U.S. and had called in at the Spotted Pony Lounge in Amarillo because he liked the 1970s hit 'Is This the Way to Amarillo'.
Mr Reeve, of Maidenhead, Berkshire, was hit in the torso after the robber Ray Carlos Cisneros fired wildly into the bar.
Earlier in the year Craig Elford, 39 and Kenneth Watkinson, 48, were killed in a hit-and-run accident as they walked back to their hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
The businessmen, who were in the city recruiting for a health firm, were struck by a high-powered Porsche sports car and died instantly.
Ryan LeVin, 35, the son of a millionaire, is awaiting trial on vehicular manslaughter charges.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1377840/Two-British-tourists-shot-dead-Florida-street-robbery-went-wrong.html#ixzz1JuDNbvJr
Detectives in America are investigating how two British holidaymakers, university friends James Cooper, 25, and James Kouzaris, 24, came to be shot dead in a rundown neighbourhood in Florida. They were murdered in Newtown, a deprived part of the city of Sarasota, in the early hours of Saturday.Local officers said it was 'very unusual' to find tourists in this area, which is about 12 miles away from the upmarket island city of Longboat Key where the pair were staying with Mr Cooper's family.,
Murder scene: James Cooper and James Kouzaris were found dead on this one-way street
Officers found the first body surrounded by up to 20 shell casings before discovering the second victim 50 feet away in the early hours of Saturday morning. Local residents had reported what they thought was 'machine gun fire'.A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder.
James Kouzaris - who had posted pictures of himself on Facebook from exotic locations around the world - was shot dead three days after his 25th birthday.
He had previously visited Ecuador, Taiwan, Argentina, Vietnam and Laos before joining up with university friend Mr Cooper for the holiday in Florida. While in Taiwan he is also believed to have taught English.
The former was a tennis coach and an only child. He had studied management, with Mr Kouzaris taking town planning.
They had been staying on the upmarket island city of Longboat Key, about 12 miles from the less affluent area where they were killed.
Friends and family paid tribute to Mr Kouzaris, known as 'Jam', on his Facebook profile page.
Posts commented on his positivity and one friend said Mr Kouzaris 'lived every day to the fullest'.
Lynn Hucker wrote: 'To a beautiful cousin who I will never forget. Always happy and full of life. You will be so sadly missed James.'
Another post from a friend called Ben Stacey read: 'RIP Jam, absolute legend. It was an honour mate, I was so looking forward to seeing you again in Miami. The month travelling with you was some of the best times I've had and was so thankful I met you. Rated you very highly XO'.
Dr John Burchell, senior lecturer at the University of Sheffield Management School, said: 'During his time in Sheffield, James was an enthusiastic and hard-working student, and was popular among his peers.
'He had a good sense of humour and a range of plans for what he wanted to do after graduation.'I am immensely shocked and saddened by the news and send our deepest condolences to his family.'
Mr Kouzaris, from Northampton, was a guest of the Cooper family, from Warwick, who were on holiday in the area, police said.
A statement from Mr Kouzaris' family described him as a 'wonderful son'.
It said: 'We loved him so much and we can't believe he has gone. We are absolutely devastated and in a state of complete shock.'
Best buddies: James Kouzaris, right, and James Cooper
Police in Sarasota said neither of the men were in possession of drugs, but would not say whether they had cash or weapons.
The area is a known hotspot for gangs.
Captain Paul Sutton, of Sarasota Police, said: 'This is an area where not many tourists venture. We are still trying to ascertain why they were there.'
'It is a residential neighbourhood with no shops and no bars. We do not know what brought them here at 3am.'
A spokesman for the British consulate in Miami said: 'British consular officials can confirm that two British nationals were killed in Sarasota, Florida, on April 16. Next of kin have been notified.
'Officials from the consulate in Orlando are providing assistance. The two male victims were on holiday in Florida with other family and friends.'
Shootings of British tourists are rare in the U.S. but in November 2009 Thomas Reeve was gunned down while drinking with friends in a Texas bar.
The 28-year-old father of one was in Amarillo, Texas, when the bar he was drinking in was held up by an armed robber.
Mr Reeve, of Maidenhead, Berkshire, was hit in the torso after the robber Ray Carlos Cisneros fired wildly into the bar.
Earlier in the year Craig Elford, 39 and Kenneth Watkinson, 48, were killed in a hit-and-run accident as they walked back to their hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
The businessmen, who were in the city recruiting for a health firm, were struck by a high-powered Porsche sports car and died instantly.
Ryan LeVin, 35, the son of a millionaire, is awaiting trial on vehicular manslaughter charges.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1377840/Two-British-tourists-shot-dead-Florida-street-robbery-went-wrong.html#ixzz1JuDNbvJr
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