One local man died and a cruise ship crew member was injured in a leg from a stray bullet when a gunman started shooting near the landing site of the tender boats on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. The incident took place on Sunday morning at around 9:00 am at the boardwalk in the Esperanza neighborhood when a hitman started firing from an assault rifle to a 28-year-old man who is a son of a local policeman, reports the local media. The shooting was witnessed by one police officer who was on duty in the morning shift on the island and faced the shooter. The hitman boarded a red Toyota which was later found burning in flames.

The crew member identified as a 53-year old Filipino national, working onboard the cruise ship Star Legend by Windstar Cruises, was hit in the left leg. He was treated by paramedics and later transferred to a Medical Center in Puerto Rico. Seatrade Cruise News reports that the crewmember was released from the hospital on Sunday and is now recovering in a hotel in a San Juan hotel, accompanied by another crew member. 

The crew member is expected to make a full recovery. He will be sent home to the Philippines for a medical off and he is expected to be able to return to work in three weeks said Windstar President John Delaney in an interview for Seatrade Cruise News.

Following the incident, Windstar Cruises has canceled all visits to the Island of Vieques until the end of the month. The cruise line said they will complete a safety assessment to determine whether or not they will return to the island.

We wish the crewmember makes a full recovery and hope he gets well soon. As for the three weeks medical off, we think it is a short period for a full recovery.