VICTIM OF RIU RAPE INCIDENT SPEAKS TO PRESS

One of the American tourists who was allegedly sexually assaulted at the Riu Reggae Hotel in St. James last week is sharing details of the incident.

The woman who shot the suspect says she is haunted by the incident.

She told the Detroit Free Press newspaper that she wants the attacker to pay for a night of hell that ended with her walking through the hotel half-naked, finding her way to the reception desk and placing a gun on the counter.

The woman who shot the suspect said the gunman stormed into the room through the balcony door.

She said he demanded money but she and her friend did not have any.

According to the woman, the gunman got louder, used an expletive and insisted that he be given money.

The women got scared and threw their credit cards on the bed.

One offered to go to an ATM.

According to the woman, the man cocked the gun.

They screamed and pleaded to him not to kill them.

The woman said the man then ordered them to turn the lights off, and threatened to kill them if they did not.

He eventually ordered them on the bed, where he raped them.

At one point, he set the gun down on the bed.

The woman said she grabbed the gun and shot the man twice in his arm.

He ran out the door and jumped off the balcony.

Her roommate ran down the hall screaming, wearing only a top.

She followed with the gun at her side and went to the front desk for help.

When the police arrived, they took the women to the hospital, where they underwent rape tests.

They gave statements to police at another hotel and left for Detroit the next day.

According to the woman, the hotel seemed indifferent.

It reportedly apologised for the incident and offered to refund the trip.

According to the police report, the suspect stole the gun from another hotel guest’s room.

Police obtained the blood from the scene along with a bag they believe belonged to the suspect.

The Detroit woman who shot the suspect is a registered gun holder.

However, she said it was the first time she had to use her shooting skills for self-defense.

The woman said she is coming forward to help other sex assault victims feel more comfortable about speaking out as well.

She said she needs healing and is questioning why was she targeted.

Accused gives statement

Demar Scott, the man under investigation in the alleged attack, has given a statement to the police denying that he raped the women.

Mr. Scott told investigators he was having consensual sex with the women when one of them became jealous, pulled a firearm, and shot him.

His statement was collected on the weekend following his release from hospital.

Riu defends hiring process

Meanwhile, Riu Reggae Hotel has defended its hiring process after it was revealed that the suspect, an entertainment coordinator, was named by the Manchester Police as a person of interest seven months ago.

In a statement Tuesday morning, Riu said it followed a rigorous security protocol in hiring Mr. Scott.

He started working at the hotel just two days prior to the incident and was still in training.

However, the hotel did not address the revelation that Mr. Scott was listed as a person of interest.

It maintained that its hiring protocol was followed and the relevant documentation was requested.

Riu said the trainee presented a résumé with education and experience relevant to the position, a recommendation from a Justice of the Peace and a letter from an entertainment manager from another company.

It said a police record is usually requested before a work contract is formalised.

In a Facebook post on March 2, the Manchester Police offered a reward of $35,000 for information on the whereabouts of Mr. Scott who was being sought in connection with several cases of rape in the parish.