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Police in the Dominican Republic have arrested two men in connection with the death of a 19-year-old Canadian who was shot and killed early Monday morning, in the province of Puerto Plata while on vacation.
Tristan Primeaux-Poitras died at the Centro Medico Bournigal, the health centre where he was receiving care, according to Diego Pesqueira, a spokesperson for the country’s national police service.
According to police, Primeaux-Poitras was travelling with his 26-year-old brother and both were staying at a hotel. His brother told investigators they had left the Riu Bachata hotel around 4 a.m. local time on a scooter to buy food.
Twenty minutes later, on their way back, they were allegedly chased by two individuals on a motorcycle “for the purpose of robbery.” According to investigators, one of the assailants fired a shot that struck Primeaux-Poitras on the left side of his body.
In a statement late Wednesday, police said Jordi Yúnior Severiano, 23, and Rangel Merete Rodríguez, 30, both of Puerto Plata, were arrested and identified by the victim’s brother as the alleged attackers.
The municipality of Sainte-Julienne, located 70 kilometres north of Montreal, posted a tribute to Primeaux-Poitras on Facebook and identified him as one of its residents.
“We offer our most sincere condolences to his family and his loved ones and anyone affected by this tragedy,” read the post.
Investigators visited the scene to gather evidence, including photographs and fingerprints, according to the spokesperson for the Dominican Republic’s police force.
The spokesperson added that Primeaux-Poitras’s body was transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences in Santiago for further examination.
In a statement, Global Affairs Canada told CBC News it was aware that a Canadian citizen had died in the Dominican Republic. It said it was in touch with local authorities and offering consular assistance to the family.
