Detectives investigating the fatal shooting of a Scottish man on a luxury Caribbean island are reportedly probing links to a plane which vanished in mysterious circumstances. Daniel Vettrino, 37, from Dysart, Fife, was gunned down at a car park in the Gym Hill area of Canouan in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at around 11:30 pm on Wednesday after returning from a day out. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Investigate Possible Connection to Disappeared Aircraft
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force has launched an investigation into Danny’s death while heartbroken relatives in Scotland paid tribute. Local media reports have stated that his death has triggered an “expansion of an ongoing investigation” into the “disappearance” of a private plane near Canouan earlier this month. iWitness News said the probes became linked as the two pilots of the light aircraft, which vanished from radar before being found days later, come from Colombia, where Daniel previously lived.
A report said: “Sources say that police are looking into any possible link between the killing and the ‘disappearance’ of an aeroplane after it departed Argyle International Airport for Tobago on June 12. Law enforcement officials have remained largely silent on the case amidst an intense investigation... However, Minister of National Security, St. Clair Leacock, has said that the aircraft had been found and no lives were lost, but gave no further details. The national security minister described the situation as a ‘very delicate security matter’, insisting he was constrained in what he could disclose publicly.”
Victim’s Background and Relocation
Danny moved from Scotland to Egypt in 2015 and worked for an international peacekeeping organisation, which was created to oversee the terms of the Egyptian peace treaty with Israel. He moved to Colombia in 2023 and was contemplating returning to Scotland early in the next year before he landed the job in the Caribbean. In August of 2024, Danny moved to the Grenadines where he worked as a Technical Service Manager at the Canouan Estate Resort and Villas.
Police Appeal and Detentions
A spokesperson for the local police force said Daniel was found with “multiple gunshot wounds about his body” at around midnight on Wednesday and was subsequently pronounced dead. Appealing to anyone with information to come forward, the spokesperson added: “The RSVGPF extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time.” Local media reports suggest two men, coworkers of Daniel, have been detained for questioning in connection with the death.
Family Tributes
Confirming his passing online, his brother Robson Vettrino Kolberg said Daniel, known as Danny, was “loved by everyone, a pure soul who only wanted success and happiness for all of those around him”. He said: “He has touched the lives of so many people, from his hometown in Fife to all corners of this world.” Daniel’s aunt also paid a heartfelt tribute to her “one in a million” nephew on Sunday. She said: “Daniel lived a life shaped by courage, independence, and a determination to follow his own path. He was one of five, a brother, son, nephew, cousin, and friend — loved deeply in every role he held. His journey was uniquely his: brave, stubborn, gentle, and unforgettable. He did it his way. Daniel was violently taken, robbed of the years he deserved, and the loss has shaken every part of the family. But his story, his spirit, and his love remain. Rest in the peace you deserve.”
Details of the Missing Aircraft
Publicly available data showed that the mystery aircraft had flown a round trip between Canouan and Argyle International Airport on June 10 - two days before it disappeared. The aircraft, registered in the Dominican Republic, was expected to be a one-hour, five-minute flight to Tobago but all radio contact was lost. The Piarco Area Control Centre activated an emergency search-and-rescue response and private and military aircraft were deployed to search the aircraft’s last known position, but no trace of it could be found. Local media reported that the aircraft had been found three days later but the circumstances surrounding the disappearance remain under investigation.
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”
